Pakistan Link
VOL. 24/49 - 13 Safar 1436 H
State John Kerry, who met Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif at his office on Sunday night, will meet Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in London later this week. At a news briefing in Washington, the State Department named only two world leaders Mr Kerry would meet during the London conference on Afghanistan, PM Sharif and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. The conference begins on Dec 4. According to another report, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to deliver a speech at a high level segment of the London Conference on Afghanistan on Thursday. On the sidelines of the conference, Nawaz will hold bilateral meetings with British Home Secretary Theresa May and British International Development Secretary Justine Greening. He is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with US Secretary of State John Kerry. Before the high level segment, Advisor to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz will represent Pakistan at the
Pakistan Army a ‘Truly Binding Force’
Imran Threatens to Go on with ‘Plan C’
PTI Chairman Imran Khan made calls for city and countrywide shutdown at his November 30 rally in Islamabad
Islamabad:
KERRY, P29
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Wednesday threatened that he will not call off his plan to ‘shutdown’ Faisalabad if the government
Hamid Asghar Khan Takes over as Consul General
Pakistan Adds Home-Made Fighter Jets to Air Force
Los Angeles, CA: Mr Hamid Asghar Khan has taken over as Consul General of Pakistan at Los Angeles. He has been a career diplomat and joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1992 through the Competitive Civil Service Exam. Mr Khan held various diplomatic assignments in Pakistan missions abroad including Spain, Dubai, Germany, Australia and England. Recently, Mr Khan served as Consul General and Head of Chancery at the Pakistan High Commission in London, United Kingdom. He was born at Lahore and studied at the University of Punjab for a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He joined the Foreign CG, P29
fails to set up a judicial commission to probe into alleged poll rigging before December 8. Addressing participants of his ongoing sit-in at D-Chowk, he said, “If
government fails to set up a judicial commission before December 8, I want to clear that and there should be no confusion in anyone’s mind that PTI will implement its plan in Faisalabad”.
JF-17 Thunder fighter was the major attraction for both visitors and potential buyers at IDEAS 2014
Karachi: The head of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) said Tuesday that Pakistan had added 50 home-assembled multi-role JF-17
US & Canada $1.00
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PMLN Government Is Better than Dictatorship
A Rally Unlike Others before It Washington, DC: US Secretary of
Friday, December 5, 2014
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Kerry to Meet Nawaz in London
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Thunder fighter jets to its Air Force. Air Marshal Javed Ahmed, chief of the stateowned PAC, said the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had
already received 50 of the home-made aircraft and that the supply of a second tranche would start this month. “The five aircraft of
Despite the emergence of a window for reconciliation between the government and protesting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday, the latter PLAN, P29
the next block would be inducted (into PAF) this year,” Ahmed told AFP on the sidelines of the International Defense Exhibition And Seminars in Karachi, an arms fair that brings together dealers from all over the world. Pakistan has been manufacturing the JF-17 aircraft since 2009 with the help of a Chinese group. “JF-17 is a modern aircraft, it fulfils all the needs of PAF. It is affordable, the cockpit is very user-friendly,” Ahmed said. NAWAZ SHARIF: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that Pakistan’s defense production industry has made JETS, P29
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www.PakistanLink.com Govt., Opposition Shortlist Three Names for CEC Post Islamabad: Finance Minister Ishaq
Dar and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah shortlisted names of retired judges Sardar Muhammad Raza, Tanvir Ahmed Khan and Tariq Pervez Khan Wednesday morning for the post of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Express News reported. Supreme Court had said on November 2 that it would consider issuing contempt notices to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Khursheed Shah if they failed to appoint a new CEC or nominate a candidate by December 8. Though PM Nawaz is in London to attend a conference on Afghanistan, he is in contact with the opposition leader over the telephone to discuss this matter. The shortlisted candidates belong to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), with Sardar Raza coonsidered the most favorite for the post. “Three names have been shortlisted and will be forwarded to the NA Speaker today; we will meet the December 5 deadline,” said CEC, P29
Junaid Jamshed Booked for Blasphemy
Karachi: A blasphemy case was registered on Tues¬day against singerturned-preacher Junaid Jamshed on the directives of a district and sessions court for one of his televised sermons that is thought to contain blasphemous remarks about a wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). SSP-City Sheeraz Nazeer said the case had been registered on a complaint of a leader of the Sunni Tehreek at the Risala Police Station under Sections 295-C (use of derogatory remarks in respect of the Holy Prophet) and 298-A (use of derogatory remarks etc in respect of Holy Personage) of the Pakistan Penal Code. JUNAID, P29
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OPINION
P4 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014
Visiting Graves Is a Right of Every Muslim, Including Women
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ustifying the practice of forbidding Muslim women from visiting graves or accompanying the funeral procession, one of the leading scholars of Islam in the previous century, Shaikh Bin Baz of Saudi Arabia, wrote the following: “Because they (women) may present a temptation to men and even to themselves, and because they have little patience and they get too upset. So by His mercy and kindness towards them, Allah forbade them to visit graves. This is also a form of kindness towards the men, because if they were all to gather at the grave, this might cause fitnah. So by His mercy, Allah forbade women to visit graves.”
In simple words, women are a source of temptation and they lack patience, thus they should not be allowed in cemeteries or near graves. Nor should they accompany the funeral procession. Are women really temptations? Do they lack patience? Does Allah say so? Did the Prophet believe in this? Or this is the way patriarchal societies have always believed in? If women are a source of temptation so can be men. So why specify women only. If women can be impatient so can be men, why specify women only. Both have proven through human history that they are capable of committing errors. The Qur’an says that humans have a tendency either to fall prey to evil or to practice goodness. It further explains that those who accept divine guidance, be men or women, follow the path of goodness and prevent evil taking place in any aspect of their life. Was not the purpose of faith to educate people properly in their behavioral aspects and treat each other with respect and dignity? Was not the purpose of faith to empower men and women to control their carnal desires and regulate their energy in a positive manner within a legal framework to achieve higher purposes of life? Is the purpose of faith only to preserve the faith of men that every effort should be made to ensure that they remain uncontaminated with everything that may prompt them to deviate from their path? Should others who are accused of posing them temptations must always be quarantined? If this is the case, then why limit this analysis to graveyards only? In a world where homosexuality is fast becoming a norm and prevalent in all societies, including those that claim to be Muslims, the temptation may come from men for men or women to women. The only thing that would prevent such a temptation is recognition of the fact that the priority has to be given to divine guidance rather than to one’s own desires. So why not prevent men from visiting the graves or have male-only gatherings? Why not prevent men from gathering for prayers in a male-only mosque? Why not stop all the female-only gatherings under the pretext that their presence may cause temptation to other women? Why not stop sending girls to all girls institutions?. Such an argument does not hold any strength no matter where it comes from. If people are empowered to control their behavior, they can overcome any adversarial situation. Moreover, this is an absurd argument that has been imposed on Allah and His messenger by scholars who view everything through the Freudian lances where everything revolves around sex and carnal desires of men. This analysis defeats the very purpose of religion as it is based on perversion. It simply says that men would never change as they would always follow their carnal desires if they find them in close proximity of a woman. Men constantly live in close proximity of women. Mothers, sisters, daughters, yet everyone treats these relations as sacred. If men are capable of respecting these relations within the confines of a family, they are capable of extending the same to others under the guidance of their faith. In fact, such an argument belittles human beings and their capacity to overcome their own weaknesses. It repeats the age-old adage that has shaped the thinking of most men in our human history that women are seductress or source of evil or the daughters of Shaitan (devil), an idea
that the faith was introduced to demolish. Blaming women for disrupting the iman of men goes against the instructions of the Qur’an. The Qur’an categorically explains the following in its 33rd chapter: “It should be well understood that there are no differences between men and women; except in certain biological conditions. In a society governed by Islamic ethics both men and women should possess the following potentials and qualities 1. They should totally submit to the Divine Laws; 2. This obedience should exhibit complete conviction in them; 3. They should utilize their developed potentialities according to the Divine guidance; 4. They should be true to the covenant which they have made with Allah ; 5. They should be steadfast when facing adversities, troubles or difficulties ; 6. They should be prompt in rendering services to humanity 7. They should be ready to sacrifice all their
We read in several ahadith that Syeda Ayesha was present during the burial of the Prophet. She and other wives sprinkled the dust on the grave. They recited the Qur’an in the vicinity of the grave assets for the sake of the Divine Order; 8. They should abstain themselves from all that the Divine Laws prohibit them to do; 9. They should guard their chastity fully; 10. In short, throughout their lives, at each and every step, they should act upon the Divine Laws. 11. People with this behavior are protected from all deviations and both will get their rewards from the divine. (Qur’an, 33:35) Such a behavior ought to be displayed in all aspects of life and in every sector of society. It should be practiced at home, in cemeteries, at the grocery store or at graves. The argument that temptation is the main reason for women’s exclusion from visiting the grave site is not based on any logic. Because if temptation is the main reason for isolation, then this isolation should be in every aspect of life, in grocery stores, in mosques, in public gatherings, in wedding and social gatherings, on planes, in trains and buses. The same scholars who advocate such a seclusion do not get upset when women serve them food or beverages in hotels or airplanes or even in their homes where some work as their maids. As far as the lack of patience is concerned, women have proved a higher level of patience in almost all situations. Right from giving birth to a child to accepting all adversarial conditions confidently, their patience is well established and evident. A woman is the one who decides to leave her relatives and family to live with a total stranger in matrimonial relations. She is the one who endures sufferings without compromising her dignity. And she is the one who accepts the challenge of raising the future generation of Islam through her dedication by nurturing and taking care of her
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children patiently. The hadith of the Prophet where he praised a female companion for showing exemplary behavior in the wake of the death of her son speaks volumes of her level of patience. The hadith says: “Narrated by Anas bin Mãlik: One of the sons of Abu Talha (became sick and) died and Abu Talha at that time was not at home. When his wife saw that he was dead, she prepared him (washed and shrouded him) and placed him somewhere in the house. When Abu Talha came, he asked, “How is the boy?” She said, “The child is quiet and I hope he is in peace.” Abu Talha thought that she had spoken the truth. Abu Talha passed the night and in the morning took a bath and when he intended to go out, she told him that his son had died. Abu Talha offered the (morning) salãt (prayer) with the Prophet and informed him of what had happened to them. Allah’s Messenger said, “May Allah bless you both concerning your night.” (That is, may Allah bless you with good offspring). A man from the Ansãr said, ‘They (i.e., Abu Talha and his wife) had nine sons and all of them became reciters of the Qur’an (by heart).” It was the patience of a woman that brought such endless blessings for the entire family and the community. Yet the scholars claim that she does not have the strength to endure sufferings. Thus blaming a woman for lack of patience is also an absurd idea. In fact if anyone had shown an emotional outburst at the death of the dearest one, as recorded in our books of ahadith, was none other than the second Caliph, who at one point of time had refused to accept the news of the death of the Prophet. He was willing to fight everyone who had held this belief. Thus we read: “When Omar ibn al Khattab (r) heard that the Prophet had passed away, he was so distraught that he drew his sword and declared: ‘Some hypocrites are pretending that the Prophet of God - may God’s peace and blessing be upon him — has died. By God I swear that he did not die; that he has gone to join his Lord, just as other Prophets went before. Moses was absent from his people for forty nights and returned to them after they had declared him dead. By God, the Prophet of God will return just as Moses returned. Any man who dares to perpetrate a false rumor such as Muhammad’s death shall have his arms and legs cut off by this hand.” People listened to Omar (r), too stupefied to believe that the man who had transformed Arabia from the backwaters of history to the forefront of the historical process, was dead. The situation was grave indeed. It was only after the speech of Abu Bakr that he calmed down. Sometimes a few other arguments are also presented to justify the prohibition for women. It is argued that dead can see the visitors naked in the cemetery. If this is true, then no one should visit the graveyard because seeing a naked person whether male or female violates the principles of Islam. The burial should be done by robots with no human intervention. If the dead can see everyone naked, they why should we bury men and women in the same graveyard sometimes next to each other? Another argument that is given to prevent women from visiting the grave is that jinn or ghosts would possess them especially if they visit the site during their menstrual cycle. These are the beliefs of the pagans and they should not be taken seriously. The ahadith that many scholars quote in support of their self-designed prohibition for women should be seen in the historical context. Many GRAVES, P24
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OPINION
P6 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014
PPP and Punjab
n By Syed Kamran Hashmi
H
Westfield, IN
ad Zulifqar Ali Bhutto (ZAB) brought off the verdict in his favor, and had he looked at the dead body of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in Punjab today, I am certain he would have wished to opt for martyrdom as his destiny in 1979 over political irrelevance in 2014. PPP did not come to this point overnight. Rather, it was left to bleed slowly.
When ZAB was executed, a wave of despondency swept through the party ranks. But the PPP, a party with deep roots which penetrates into the souls of the people, pulled through the crisis. And as demoralized as the party supporters had been, they still did not lose faith altogether. They found Benazir Bhutto(BB), the daughter of ZAB and the former Prime Minister of Pakistan as their new Messiah. Though BB did not carry the magnetism of her father, and the stories about financial corruption also held down her reputation, still she drew enough charisma to keep the party together and fend off a major dissent. With her assassination, however, the spark of ZAB which once illuminated the whole country has petered out. To grasp the gravity of the situation, let us first go over the election results of 2013 and then compare them with those of 2008. In May of 2013, PPP won 8 seats - yes, only eight - in the Punjab Assembly out of its 371 positions, a number so low that many political scientists reckon that PPP should now
be considered as a pressure group, instead of a formidable political opponent, more or less like the Jamat e Islami which can pull few thousand votes but can never win elections on its own. With 2.15% of the total number of seats, compared to 28.5% in 2008, I agree with their harsh assessment about the party that once claimed Punjab to be its stronghold. No, they cannot point at the low voter turnout this time - as they always have in the past - after losing in the polls. With 58.5% of the people casting their votes, it is recorded as the highest in recent history. Compared to the 2008 elections, when PPP won 106 seats, the turnout stood low, as low as 48%. The total number of PPP votes also has shrunk bringing another major disappointment to the party. Dropping by more than 60% from 19%, PPP captured only 11% of the votes in these elections. What it means is that none of the new voters supported the party of ZAB while a significant number of old comrades, ‘the jiyalas,’ wound up endorsing other parties too, a trend that if carried over in the next poll would result in the complete extinction of PPP from its current ‘endangered’ status. How did it all happen? Is it the poor performance of the party? Or is it the emergence of a strong and attractive counter narrative from Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI)? Unlike before, this time PPP supporters do not hold the establishment responsible for contriving a conspiracy against it, nor do they point fingers at the traditional political rivals like the Pakistan Muslim League (PMLN) or Mian
F m
Nawaz Sharif for plotting against the party. Rather, if you listen to them in their private conversations, their anger and disapproval is directed at their own leadership, the petty intraparty power struggle and the corruption scandals. In my opinion, the party, despite
tor of the society - the rich, the poor, the educated, the less educated, the professionals, the businessmen and the minorities. After BB’s assassination, their loss too allowed them to hold their grounds against the wishywashy narrative of both the PML-N and PTI.
No, they cannot point at the low voter turnout this time - as they always have in the past - after losing in the polls. With 58.5% of the people casting their votes, it is recorded as the highest in recent history being a victim of it, has presented an incoherent stance on the war against terrorism which has disappointed the masses more than anything else. Being liberal, PPP claims to stand against religious extremism and fundamentalism. If the party had stood by its claim, it could have carved out support from every sec-
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But, PPP losing so many lives almost backed out of its commitment. It dragged the Swat operation for as long as it could; watched the growing threat in Karachi under its nose without any strategy to ward it off; balked at launching a grand scale military operation in North Waziristan and on top, it did not even stand by its own
Governor, Salman Taseer, who was first wrongfully accused of blasphemy, and later on assassinated by his security guard. The PML-N administration, infamous for its connections with banned outfits, could have been leaned on to take action against the jihadi organizations. Nonetheless, the party of BB, now drenched in fear of a religious backlash, did not support the changes that the blasphemy law needs and kept quiet instead of fighting back and let the whole province slip out of its hand. The second major reason for the election setback stemmed from the poor governance in the Center and the involvement of its leadership in financial scandals. Let us be honest, PTI has waged a war against financial dishonesty claiming it to be the biggest evil in the society, the source of our inability to succeed as a nation. During 2008-13, however, when the Punjab Government under PML-N kept its hands clean, PPP leadership, it seemed, was busy plundering each and every penny. It may not be true but the perception sometimes is stronger than reality and when it comes to PPP and corruption, it is not only stronger than reality, it is a divine axiom. Would Pakistan People’s Party(PPP) ever play a defining role in the politics of Punjab again? With the party’s current leadership, its lack of interest on issues like electricity and economy, its poor choices in picking local representatives and its inability to reconnect with the people, my simple answer is no. With the rise of Imran Khan and the ability of PML-N to maintain its popularity, the only loser in this “Game of Thrones” is PPP. May it rest in peace.
OPINION n By Dr Mohammad Taqi
A
Florida
t the conclusion of Russian Defense Minister General Sergei Shoygu’s one-day visit to Islamabad, his Pakistani counterpart, Khwaja Muhammad Asif, said that after the US and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan, security in that country would be perilous and “Pakistan wants Russian engagement in the Afghan peace process.”
One could not help but think of an old Afghan adage: “Har keh dana kunad, kunad nadaan, wa laik ba’ad az kharabi-e-bisyar” (what the sage does the stupid may do too except after much destruction). After destroying generations of Afghans — and Pakistanis — in the jihadist venture against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, the Pakistanis want Russia’s help there! This, however, would not be the first time that Pakistan has tried to rope in Russia. During General Pervez Musharraf ’s military rule, his director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Lieutenant General Mahmud Ahmed, travelled to Moscow in September 2000 and met the chief of the Russian federal security service, Nikolai Patrushev. Pakistan is playing up its Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) connection as well as India’s cozying up to the US to reach out to Russia. The Russians, however, are not as gullible as the US and nothing came out of that ex-DG ISI’s 2000 visit. A ‘milestone’
DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P7
Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Pudding military cooperation agreement has been signed between Russia and Pakistan this month but the fine print indicates that the deal for the MI-35 (Hind E) combat transport helicopters, which Pakistan covets, has only been ‘politically approved’. The thrust of the SCO meeting this past September was peace and stability in Afghanistan. It is unlikely that Russia would go out of its way to accommodate Pakistan especially when the latter has little to show in terms of helping bring peace in Afghanistan. Afghan officials have already blamed this past Sunday’s deadly bombing in Yahya Khel, Paktika, on the Haqqani terrorist network. The barbaric attack that inflicted over 60 fatalities at a volleyball game indicates that, despite the Pakistani military’s claims to the contrary, Haqqani network operatives have escaped Operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan unscathed and with their lethal operational capabilities intact. Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, recently concluded a tour of the US. General Sharif seems to have said all the right things to all the right people there. He even made a rather hard hitting speech at the Pakistan embassy in Washington DC saying, “I would like to openly say that this (Operation Zarb-e-Azb) is against all hues and colors, and it is without any exception, whether it is Haqqani network or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or anything.” The Haqqanis were to wreak havoc in Paktika just two days later. Some Pakistani
analysts nonetheless dubbed the army chief ’s US visit as a paradigm shift in relations between the two countries. As Yogi Berra would have said, it was like déjà vu all over
tor General Pervez Musharraf who presented as the real jihadist-hunter to the US and the West. While the Afghans and regional powers had no doubt about Musharraf and Kay-
General Sharif seems to have said all the right things to all the right people there. He even made a rather hard hitting speech at the Pakistan embassy in Washington DC saying, “I would like to openly say that this (Operation Zarb-e-Azb) is against all hues and colors, and it is without any exception, whether it is Haqqani network or Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or anything” again! After the South Waziristan operation in late 2009, when the then COAS General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani visited the US in March 2010, his visit was presented as the next best thing after sliced bread. Before that, of course, there was the ‘enlightened moderate’ dicta-
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ani’s duplicitous policies, it took the US a good 10 years to figure out that they were being played by the Pakistani establishment. A lot was said about the personal friendship between General Kayani and Admiral Mike Mullen till Mullen, in his testimony, described the Haqqani network as the “ISI’s veritable arm”.
Interestingly, despite all the fanfare about Pakistan being the foremost US ally in the war on terror, almost all al Qaeda ringleaders apprehended from Pakistan were nabbed on the information gathered by the US agencies on their own. The Pakistani agencies only assisted when presented with incontrovertible evidence about these terrorists. On the other hand, Musharraf is on record to have tried to set the US on a wild goose chase by claiming that Osama bin Laden was either dead or not in Pakistan. Unfortunately, this duplicity notwithstanding, successive US administrations have continued to deal directly with the Pakistani military brass over the heads of the civilian leadership. General Sharif ’s recent visit is no exception either. The Pakistani security establishment’s modus operandi remains unchanged: discredit the politicians and elected governments at home using an establishment-friendly media and religious-political parties, and then present itself as the ultimate arbiter at home as well of national security and foreign policies. The additional pitch the security establishment makes to the US is that somehow its concerns regarding the Afghan-Indian relationship are genuine and, just like it wants the US to induce a breakthrough in Kashmir, it wants it to lean on Afghanistan to shun India. What the US must realize is that, while a solution to the Kashmir issue is desirable, it remains the Pakistani security establishment’s economic raison d’être. Prime Minister (PM) PUDDING, P6
OPINION
P8 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014 n By Salahuddin Haider
P
Karachi, Pakistan
rime Minister Nawaz Sharif, though still precariously perched, received a new lease of life after the army and the US manifestly extended support to him this week.
Whether in reality or myth three formidable “A”s -- Allah, Amy and America -- are considered to be the benchmark for any government to survive or prosper in Pakistan. Its own merit matters little and is almost of minimal value. Worrisome and wearing a haggard look because of the ominous sits-in of Tehrik Insaaf chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Awami Tehrik party leader Tahirul Qadri, the two Sharifs, governing from Islamabad and Lahore, were lucky to be backed by even their opponents in the parliament. The Army’s threat to their rule continued to exist. Sharif handled it tactfully and maintained an uninterrupted rapport with General Raheel Sharif. The strategy worked, and although the Army kept on guiding the country’s foreign policy, it was neutralized to a great extent in the opinion of many. That averted the danger of an unconstitutional change, at least for the time being. But the real surge in Sharif ’s favour came when General Rahil visited the USA to hold multi-dimensional talks. The proof of the General’s tactful handling of the rapidly worsening ties came when the American government bestowed
Sharif Gets a New Lease of Life the coveted Legendary Award on him. It not only showed improvement in the situation but generated enormous goodwill, especially when President Obama telephoned Sharif to update him on Indo-Pak relationship. Sharif was quick to request him for using his good offices to ease tension between Islamabad and Delhi during his visit to India for participation in the independence day celebrations. Irrespective of the outcome of Obama’s efforts to help improve the Indian-Pakistan relationship, the very news about Obama’s courtesy call to Sharif, a person whom he had completely ignored during the UN General Assembly session last September, was a big boost for the Prime Minister’s image among his countrymen. American support, whether real or superficial, is generally regarded as a victory for those at the helm in Pakistan. Sharif naturally felt greatly relieved and obliged to Rahil for pleading Pakistan’s case with reasonable perfection in the US. The sudden u-turn in Washington’s attitude towards Islamabad was perhaps also prompted by the latter’s decision to sign a wide-ranging treaty for cooperation in defence and other sensitive areas with Russia. Analysts were firm in their assessment that last week’s agreement sounded alarm bells for US policymakers in Washington who did not wish to lose an important ally for two reasons. First its strategic location on the sea routes for Gulf oil to China, and secondly America by
writing off Pakistan, or belittling it in the changed scenario, may feel handicapped in dealing with India. Because of its geographic location and 18 million peoplePakistan can always be an effective tool for the US to liberate itself from any intended
Yet another surprising development was the US envoy Richard Olson’s meeting with Imran Khan on the eve of the “grand and decisive showdown” against Sharif in the capital city on November 30. Linked together, all these happenings tilt
Irrespective of the outcome of Obama’s efforts to help improve the Indian-Pakistan relationship, the very news about Obama’s courtesy call to Sharif, a person whom he had completely ignored during the UN General Assembly session last September, was a big boost for the Prime Minister’s image Indian blackmail. Pundits are the least bothered whether the treaty with Russia was the result of an initiative of the Army or the brainchild of the Foreign Office. They were simply elated at the end result.
the balance substantially in Sharif ’s favour. Confidence is clearly writ on his face now. What follows in December or after a couple of months remains to be seen. (The writer is a former Sindh Minister and senior journalist)
PUDDING FROM P7
Nawaz Sharif ’s peace overtures to India were scuttled by having the country’s top diplomat in India meet the Kashmiri separatist leaders. That one move has plunged Pak-India relations to the point where even an informal meeting between the two countries’ PMs at the SAARC conference seems unlikely. Viewing its Afghan policy through the Pakistani establishment’s lens has had disastrous consequences for the US. The newly approved regimen of a combat enabler role for the roughly 10,000 US troops remaining in Afghanistan will bear little fruit unless Pakistan gives up Mullah Omar and his ilk. The US can no longer turn a blind eye to these terror sanctuaries. A narrow window of opportunity exists, perhaps through Nowruz — the Afghan New Year in March 2015 — through which Pakistan can prove the bona fides of its claims that it does not harbor the enemies of Afghanistan. Any more attacks like the butchery in Paktika and even the affable Afghan president, Mr Ashraf Ghani, will be forced to take a hard line just like his predecessor, Mr Hamid Karzai. Though PM Sharif and his team have apparently ceded foreign and national security policy to the military establishment, they should still try to get their act together lest they want to implore another superpower 30 years down the road to help out in Afghanistan. The US, on its part, may take General Sharif ’s proclamations at face value but the ultimate proof of Pakistan’s foreign policy pudding on his watch will remain in the eating. PS: Pakistan’s defense minister has now declared that Washington is not a “reliable friend”; the aforementioned Persian adage may play out again sooner than one thought. (The writer can be reached at mazdaki@me.com and he tweets @mazdaki)
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OPINION
DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P9
Modi’s Election Plan in Kashmir: Power Usurping the People n By Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai
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Washington, DC
Whatever the (Indian) Government spokesman might have said before, or may say now, there has never been a free and fair election in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.” Jayaprakash Narayan, ‘India’s Conscience-Keeper.’
Hope and change the Modi way seems to have taken in the majority of India’s voters since he was elected in May, 2014 but his message to the flood-ravaged people of Kashmir has so far been less than palatable. History has proven that candidates in the Himalayas are tall on promises but short on results, and the elections are invariably engineered to suit the status quo. This time is expected to be no different. The hope of prime minister Modi, of course, is to put a little Vaseline on his party’s long-time efforts to slip past Article 370 by simply flooding the State Assembly with members of the BJP and concocting changes through legislation that will effectively render the law null and void. First it was the river Jehlum. Now it’s the BJP. Perhaps the greatest ravaging of the Kashmiri consciousness would be putting into place mechanisms and laws that will further inhibit opportunities for the long-held desire of Kashmir to hold a referendum giving it independence from India altogether. Since the first elections were held in 1951, they have been seen as obvious frauds, where the majority of seats were uncontested or votes that were somehow magically switched from one candidate to another. In 1951, out of 75 seats, the ruling party with the support of the Government of India won all 75 seats, with 73 seats returned uncontested. What an irony that then Indian Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru said about these elections on October 18, 1951 that the people of Kashmir have sent a message “that they were with India.” What a joke! In 1957, the ruling party won 68 seats out of 75 and 43 were returned unopposed. In 1962, they won 70 out of 75 seats and 39 were unchallenged. And in 1967, the ruling party won 60 out of 75 and 55 were returned unopposed. A leading Indian leader Jayaprakash Narayan said on February 1, 1972, “Whatever the (Indian) Government spokesman might have said before, or may say now, there has never been a free and fair election in the State of Jammu and Kashmir.” In 1987, Muslim United Front (MUF) was winning 83% of the seats in the Valley of Kashmir but the Returning Officer changed all the results. All the available evidence testifies that MUF could have easily won 37 seats out of 45 in the Valley of Kashmir alone. Most of the leaders of the Kashmiri resistance today were either contesting elections in 1987 or were involved in the election campaign of MUF candidates. Syed Salahuddin, Commander of Kashmiri militant organization Hizbul Mujahideen, was contesting elections from Ami-
ra Kadal constituency (the heart of the capitol) and was winning by 14,000 votes. Yet, the Returning Officer announced that he was losing by 14, 000 votes. Yasin Malik, Chairman Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front, was the campaign manager of Salahuddin. Both picked up the gun after losing the faith in the elections in Kashmir. Amy Waldman wrote in the New York Times on August 24, 2002 that “Rigged elections in Kashmir in 1989 helped trigger the armed uprising that India estimates has taken more than 35,000 lives.” Since 2002, the number of dead has risen to over 100,000. The forthcoming elections to be held between November 25 to December 20, 2014 in Indian Occupied Kashmir will be no different. They are being held under the Indian Constitution, in spite of the fact that the United Nations Security Council Resolutions 91 of 1951 and 122 of 1957 have declared that “…any action that Assembly might attempt to take to determine the future shape and affiliation of the entire State or any part thereof would not constitute a disposition of the State in accordance with the above principle.” Mahatma Gandhi is known for his statement that “The will of Kashmiris is the supreme law in Kashmir.” Yet what overlays and ultimately renders the will of the people powerless is government of India itself. The greatest flaw in government is that it governs rather than being a fundamental expression of popular will. Electoral systems transfer the rights and powers bestowed in people to third parties who are not bound by contract or apparently even by moral obligation to represent those who have given them such license. Democracy was intended by purpose, if not design, to give power to the people, but the fallibility of the ambitious invariably overtakes whatever good might have been intended. What the forthcoming elections will not do is place the power where it truly belongs: in the hands of the people. “We profess democracy but rule by force in Kashmir,” Jayprakash Narayan once said. Aside from corruption in the electoral process, the rule of force is everywhere evident through the presence of more than 700,000 Indian military and paramilitary forces needed, apparently, to shut down any ideas the Kashmiris may have to take control of their own affairs. Election, however, is the sine qua non of democratic process. The basic prerequisite for an election is that it has to be free and fair. Elections should also be free from violence, coercion, intimidation and unlawful influence of armed forces. Unfortunately, the elections in Indian Occupied Kashmir do not meet this threshold and are therefore illegitimate as a vehicle to move forward any talks even as a first step towards the resolution of the Kashmir dispute. India insists to hold façade of election in Kashmir because it provides her an opportunity to respond to the criticism of the world powers who recognize the genuine sentiments of the people of Kashmir. Just as Kashmiri resistance leaders again intend to boycott elections that they see as an attempt to legitimize Indian rule, win over
iv. Allowing all political parties the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and right to unhindered election campaign; v. Requiring to sign no oath of allegiance to the Indian or Pakistani Constitutions; vi. Deputizing an international and neutral agency like the United Nations to conduct, monitor and supervise the elections; vii. Reassuring that the elected officials be given a mandate to negotiate a final settlement of the Kashmir conflict with India and Pakistan; Let us hope that the leadership of both India and Pakistan as well as the world powers realize that resolution of the Kashmir dispute guarantees peace and stability not only in Kashmir but also in the region of South Asia – home to one-fifth of total human race. (Dr Fai can be reached at 202607-6435, gnfai2003@yahoo.com, http://www.kashmirawareness.org) RESPONSE FROM P10
independents, engineer splits in regional parties and get Pandits (Hindus) who fled during the revolt to register and vote, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq recognizes the BJP’s ploy as cynical. “Not only are they trying to win the election through default, they are trying to split Muslims into Shias and Sunnis - and even within Sunnis a further split,” he said. “It’s dangerous.” Syed Ali Geelani categorically denounced the BJP’s tactics and said that “Jammu and Kashmir is a disputed territory and it has never been a part of India. Its occupation carries no weight and is neither valid nor legitimate.”
Let us hope that the leadership of both India and Pakistan as well as the world powers realize that resolution of the Kashmir dispute guarantees peace and stability not only in Kashmir but also in the region of South Asia – home to one-fifth of total human race Mohammad Yasin Malik said, “Jammu Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris and so-called elections can never ‘Indianize’ the people of Kashmir.” Those who think they can conquer Kashmir through manipulated elections are “living in fool’s paradise,” he added. Shabir Shah said that Kashmir was crying for international aid after having gone through devastating floods. “The announcement of elections is an exercise in futility.” With his party’s recent victories in regions that aren’t traditional BJP strongholds, such as in Maharashtra, home of Indian financial capital Mumbai, and in relatively industrialized Haryana in northern
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India, Narendra Modi’s strategy can be expected to gain his party more than the 11 seats it now holds. But in the final analysis, it will not matter. Such elections do not address the open sore that bleeds with continuing violence and suffering that takes place daily in Kashmir. They do not take the place of the referendum that has been promised them for 67 years. They cannot resolve through elections the direct popular vote that is needed to determine the will of the people. They cannot enfranchise those who have already been disenfranchised through the willful refusal to grant Kashmiris this guaranteed right to self-determination. They cannot change the hearts of those who have already seen how useless and corrupt such a process has shown itself to be. We should know that the election plan of the Modi administration has nothing to do with building a majority consensus in Kashmir. It has also nothing to do to strengthen the peace process between India, Pakistan and the Kashmiri leadership. It is designed to legitimize its illegitimate rule in the eyes of the international community. The fact is that the real issue in Kashmir is not about elections, and it is not about an economic package or terrorism. The real issue in Kashmir is about the political destiny of the 18 million people of Kashmir, be they in Indian Occupied Kashmir, Azad Kashmir, Gilgat-Baltistan or Kashmiri expatriates.. We, therefore, put forth the following seven points that may pave the way to set a stage for a settlement of the Kashmir dispute: i. The demilitarization of the State of Jammu & Kashmir on either side of the Cease-fire Line; ii. Satisfying the democratic principles, the rule of law, peace and security for every inhabitant of all the five regions of Jammu & Kashmir; iii. Repealing the draconian laws, particularly ‘The Armed Forces (Jammu & Kashmir) Special Powers Act’;
his “‘in-country’ expertise is dated”. She goes on to state that Professor Ahmed’s “claim to fame is that he served for two years as a ‘political officer’ in Waziristan in 1979 and 1980 and who is now a professor at American University in the School of International Service.” She ignores the fact that Waziristan is not Professor Ahmed’s only experience in FATA during a 35-year career as a member of the Civil Service of Pakistan (CSP), having also previously served as the Political Agent in Orakzai Agency and conducted extensive fieldwork in Mohmand Agency for his PhD in anthropology. He also served as Commissioner in three divisions in Baluchistan and as Founding Director General of the National Center for Rural Development in Pakistan. Additionally, he held various senior postings in the North-West Frontier Province (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and what was then East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) as well as serving as Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK. In addition to his years of government service, Professor Ahmed is a world-renowned anthropologist and has written dozens of books about tribal society and Islam since the 1970s, based in anthropological fieldwork. For Professor Fair to dismiss Professor Ahmed’s anthropological methodology and use and development of anthropological models when she has stated herself that her PhD is in “South Asian literatures” is odd indeed. It is clear that Professor Fair has critiqued The Thistle and the Drone based on what she assumes it is about rather than what it is actually arguing. I find it very difficult to believe that she “carefully” read this book as she claims in her article. It is worrying that such a prominent academic would publish such a poorly written and researched article. Her antipathy towards Professor Ahmed remains a mystery but I can only hope that the next time she chooses to review one of Professor Ahmed’s works, or indeed write anything else, she will utilize scholarly methods reflective of her scholarly position and reputation. (Harrison Akins is the Ibn Khaldun Chair Research Fellow at American University’s School of International Service and was senior researcher for Professor Akbar Ahmed’s The Thistle and the Drone: How America’s War on Terror Became a Global War on Tribal Islam, Brookings 2013).
OPINION
P10 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014
Debating The Thistle and the Drone: A Response to the Distortions of Christine Fair n By Harrison Akins
A
Washington, DC
s senior researcher for The Thistle and the Drone: How America’s War on Terror Became a Global War on Tribal Islam by Akbar Ahmed (Brookings Institution Press, 2013), I watched the many responses and reviews to the book with interest. They have been overwhelmingly positive, including a cover story review by Malise Ruthven in The New York Review of Books, but there have also been critical reviews. Given the importance of the topics discussed—drones, terrorism, violence across the Muslim world, and the future direction of America’s war on terror—scholarly debate on these issues and critiques which engage with the ideas, interpretation, and opinions of the author is welcomed and encouraged. Unfortunately, one particular review published in the academic journal Small Wars & Insurgencies, “Drones, spies, terrorists, and second-class citizenship in Pakistan” by Christine Fair, a professor at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, neither engages with the ideas of the book nor treats the author with respect, though it was written with the veneer of scholarly method and approach. While it is clear that Professor Fair, for some unknown reason, is not shy about sharing her contempt for Professor Ahmed in a very glib fashion on social media, having referred to the book as “The Thimble and the Dumbass” on Twitter, this article is shocking in its cavalier attitude to the text and near slanderous claims about the author. As a well-respected and prominent academic who appears frequently in the media as an expert on Pakistan, Professor Fair’s factual errors and unsubstantiated claims in reviewing The Thistle and the Drone need to be addressed, which I will do in this article. Most flagrantly, through what can be no more than a cursory and incomplete reading of the text, Professor Fair ignores the fundamental thesis of the book. The Thistle and the Drone examines America’s war on terror and the tribal communities on the peripheries of the Muslim world from which much of the violence is emanating. It argues that, rather than Islam, this violence is a product of the broken relationship between central governments and tribal peripheries, which has been exacerbated by the involvement of the United States. Nowhere in her review of The Thistle and the Drone does Professor Fair refer to this thesis which forms the basis for all of the arguments and recommendations which Professor Ahmed makes in the book, including those about the use of the drone. Before discussing the multitude of inaccuracies and distortions in Professor Fair’s review, it is first necessary to briefly expand on the thesis of The Thistle and the Drone. Throughout history, tribal communities, residing deep in the mountains and deserts in clan or family groups and living by a code of behavior emphasizing honor, hospitality, and revenge, have strongly resisted outside encroachment in their territory, dating to the time of various caliphates and empires. A cursory glance at the early failures of British expeditions into Afghanistan and other colonial adventures and misadventures elsewhere in Asia and Africa is testament to the violent struggles between the colonizing states of Europe and the people they sought to subject to their rule. The subjugation of these tribal communities at the hands of brutal military tactics was too often a bloody affair causing the deaths of thousands, if not millions, of people. At the creation of the post-colonial modern state in the 20th century, the dominant groups within the colony, often those who occupied the settled towns and cities and were educated and worked under the European colonial power, controlled the economics and politics of the newly formed country. They found themselves holding the undisputed reins of power. These leaders often times were a different ethnic group, spoke a different language, or even had a different religion to the tribes on the periphery. They saw the tribal communities as a threat to the cohesiveness of the new state and a great hindrance towards their efforts to modernize their nations. At the hands of the central government, the tribes were forcibly settled and assimilated to the dominant language
and culture, strategically neglected, or even exterminated. As the jubilation over independence subsided, a cycle of violence between the central government and the tribes often took its place. The era of independence was often no better, if not worse, than the colonial past for these oppressed communities. After 9/11, the United States, backing the military and intelligence services of central governments, looked to these peripheral regions— which were already in a state of turmoil—in their hunt for terrorists. The involvement of the US has exacerbated and expanded the violence between center and periphery but is not the cause of it. Unfortunately, the US has not demonstrated that it has any understanding of this history and dynamic between center and periphery in the conduct of the war on terror over the past decade. Rather, the US continues to implement the same failed policies in new conflict areas. I would challenge anyone, including Professor Fair, to take one glance at the current state of Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, FATA, or other regions of the Muslim world where America is engaged and argue that its policies to halt the violence have been anything but a failure. It is only by understanding the historical context of the conflicts between center and periphery, something which far pre-dates America’s involvement in these societies, and the motivating factors for further acts of terror, that we are able to come up with any effective solutions for the tragic violence which continues to rage in many parts of both the Muslim and non-Muslim world. If we are able to understand the root causes of the violence, it is clear why the drones, despite what Professor Fair has argued in a number of essays and articles , are an ineffective way to promote peace and stability in the region. Drones as well as training, arms, and other assistance given by the US to central governments are too often used in local conflicts between center and periphery, contributing to a cycle of violence that seems unending and has made life for so many in these societies unbearable. The bulk of the research data supporting Professor Ahmed’s thesis is found in chapters 3, 4, and 5. From Professor Fair’s review, there is no evidence that she actually read these chapters all that closely, having skipped over 200 pages of text in her discussion of The Thistle and the Drone, from pg. 97 to pg. 305. For the record, it was in these glossed over pages in which the historical arc of the conflict between center and periphery from the time of the emirate through colonization and into the modern state and the current war on terror was laid out and which forms the basis for the recommendations which Professor Ahmed makes in Chapter 6. Waziristan, the core case study of the book, is one of 40 case studies which all demonstrate the same tensions between center and periphery, including other regions where the drone is used such as Yemen and Somalia. While Professor Fair only focuses on Waziristan as her essay is primarily a review of scholarship studying the use of the drone in FATA, what is written about Waziristan and FATA in The Thistle and the Drone cannot be fully understood if separated from the broader thesis of the book, as Professor Fair has done having selected only bits and pieces in order to support her own assumptions. Besides omitting the entire thesis of The Thistle and the Drone in her review, Professor Fair has misrepresented the arguments of the book. She seems taken with the idea that Professor Ahmed’s arguments are “orientalist” and his aim is to restore the “old colonial system” in Pakistan. Professor Fair writes: “Ahmed’s idyllic fondness for the repressive colonial era is out of touch with contemporary critics who believe the only way to pacify the region is by integrating the residents of FATA and making them fully enfranchised citizens of the state. The recent Crisis Group report is clear that only way to proceed is by ‘incorporating FATA into the constitutional mainstream, abolishing the Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR, 1901) and replacing it by the Pakistan Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act’. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has denounced the FCR as a ‘bad law nobody can defend’, except it would seem Akbar Ahmed.” This contention that Professor Ahmed wish-
es to continue to support the oppressive Frontier Crimes Regulations in FATA, which gives the central government such broad powers, and opposes the extension of enfranchisement and full rights to the residents of FATA is false. On the contrary, Professor Ahmed writes on pg. 95 of The Thistle and the Drone: “Some things need to change. Rights for women and those not on the tribal charter need to be introduced and vigorously protected. The Frontier Crimes Regulations that governs the Tribal Areas, the excessive and unchecked powers of political officers, the role of traditional elders who so easily compromised with the administration, the population’s limited participation in elections, and, above all, the sense of isolation must go. In any case, little of these past traditions and structures will survive considering the scale of the changes taking place in the region. However, wise and authentic tribal leadership, genuinely educated and scholarly religious leaders, and efficient and honest political officers are crucial to the reconstruction of Waziristan society.” I also must point out the irony in an American who writes about Pakistan calling a Pakistani writing about Pakistan an orientalist. I feel the need to remind Professor Fair what Edward Said writes about Orientalism in his seminal work: “To the extent that Western scholars were aware of contemporary Orientals or Oriental movements of thought and culture, these were perceived either as silent shadows to be animated by the Orientalist, brought into reality by him, or as a kind of cultural and intellectual proletariat useful for the Orientalist’s grander interpretative activity, necessary for his performance as superior judge, learned man, powerful cultural will.” Said writes elsewhere in Orientalism, “These contemporary Orientalist attitudes flood the press and the popular mind. Arabs, for example, are thought of as camel-riding, terroristic, hooknosed, venal lechers whose undeserved wealth is an affront to real civilization.” I would advise Professor Fair to assess her own work in light of the above quotes, such as when she describes the victims of drone strikes in Pakistan as “terrorist garbage” or in her article for The Atlantic, “The Case for Calling Them Nitwits,” when she reduces what she calls “the jihadist community” to a caricature of incompetent porn addicts who have sex with cows and donkeys. Such crude stereotypes serve only as a hindrance to understanding the actual source of the violence and the impact of the war on terror on millions of innocent people around the Muslim world. In fact, the entire purpose of The Thistle and the Drone is to demonstrate that these beleaguered communities—those in FATA and the other societies discussed in the book—are denied their full rights and equal participation by the modern state and this is the problem which needs to be solved in order to establish peace in these societies and, as Professor Ahmed writes, “win the war on terror.” They need to be better integrated into the state, not further marginalized or denigrated. Despite their
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potential to play a positive role in the state, these tribal communities are denied the opportunity to do so due to the policies of central governments eager to tap into the benefits of globalization. This point is argued extensively throughout the book’s 369 pages. The arguments which Professor Ahmed makes in the book which Professor Fair misinterprets as the restoration of the old colonial system, concern the need for a functioning and effective structure through which law and order can be maintained, a structure that is unfortunately non-existent in FATA today. Instead, the Pakistani government has relied upon a series of military invasions of Waziristan that have proven ineffective in stemming the violence emanating into the rest of Pakistan with the drones only making the situation worse. Only by understanding how a society traditionally operates can such a structure be established that is largely viewed as legitimate by the population. It is for this purpose that Professor Ahmed’s experiences in the field are used in this study, as a benchmark to understand how the tribal societies of FATA have traditionally functioned in the past and how they have changed within a single generation. By understanding the contrast, the reader is able to see the specific problems that need to be addressed in order to begin to understand how to re-establish an administrative structure for the periphery. Professor Fair also objects to Professor Ahmed’s use of “tribe” in his analysis of Muslim societies that today commonly define themselves on the basis of clan or family identity and descent from a common ancestor such as the Pashtun, Somalis, or Yemenis. These societies, Professor Ahmed writes, have been described by anthropologists as “segmentary lineage systems.” Professor Ahmed in the book provided an extensive justification for use of this term and its relevance in the modern era, which Professor Fair does not engage with. Instead, she criticizes Professor Ahmed’s use of concepts such as “tribal Islam”, “tribal Muslim”, and “segmentary lineage systems,” writing: “Ahmed’s confidence in the changeless categories of tribes and tribalness is frustratingly out of touch if not outright Orientalist.” This simplistic dismissal of a social scientist’s models without actually engaging in why he is using them and their place within the field of anthropology is a further indication of Professor Fair’s superficial analysis. The contention that Professor Ahmed constructed a “changeless” category is also false. Professor Ahmed states: “When I discuss ‘segmentary lineage systems’ and ‘models’, readers must not lose sight of the fact that these are abstract terms employed to provide an idea of reality on the basis of surveys and aggregates. So when I place communities into categories, keep in mind that this is little more than an exercise in imagination and merely the basis for further discussion and debate. These categories are not watertight and frequently overlap.” In yet another misrepresentation of Professor Ahmed’s argument, Professor Fair indicates that Professor Ahmed’s so-called “Orientalism” prohibits him from seeing groups like the Pashtun as modern and dynamic. She writes: “Whereas for Ahmed, the Pashtun is a rustic with no desire other than to remain far from the reaches of the state, more thoughtful analysis posits the Pashtun as one of the most globalized communities of Pakistan whose diaspora expands from Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Southwest Asia, and onward to Europe and North America.” Professor Fair apparently missed the sub-section of Chapter 1 titled “Muslim Tribes in History” in which Professor Ahmed discusses the regional and global impact that the Pashtun have played in history, as well as other tribal people elsewhere in the Muslim world. The Pashtun, he writes, “have produced celebrated artists, sportsmen, statesmen, Sufi saints, and advocates of nonviolence.” He goes on to recount the names of famous Pashtun who have in the 20th and 21st centuries been the leaders of nations, global sports icons, and famous movie stars. Professor Fair additionally dismisses Professor Ahmed’s arguments by writing that his time as the Pakistani government official in charge of Waziristan, the Political Agent, was from 1978-1980 and he is therefore “out of touch” and RESPONSE, P9
PAKISTAN
DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P11
A Rally Unlike Others before It
A PTI supporter holds a placard against Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during the November 30 rally in Islamabad
Islamabad: A far cry from the cha-
otic scenes witnessed during the early days of the sit-in on Constitution Avenue, Sunday saw a massive, yet relatively disciplined turnout at the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf rally. Most of those who made their way to Blue Area and Parade Avenue were locals, but even youths that converged on Islamabad in cars adorned with party paraphernalia and resounding with party anthems looked quite fired up. “We started from Peshawar in the early afternoon, but had to make several stopovers to avoid roadblocks, set up by mullahs,” said Rehmatullah, who led a group of Insaf Students Federation (ISF) activists. The roadblocks he was referring to were set up by Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl workers, who were protesting the murder of a Sindh-based party leader. While very few reports of violence between supporters of both parties came, no clashes were reported in the capital all day. Similarly, when students from the Jamia Muhammadia gathered to protest in front of the National Press Club, blocking the road between Supermarket in Sector F-6 and China Chowk in Blue Area, PTI supporters did not look to engage with them either. But most party workers making their way to the capital from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa encountered JUI-F roadblocks. Those Dawn spoke to at the rally said that several people who were travelling to the rally with their families turned back because they did not want to get stuck on the roads. The discipline on display was quite commendable: there was little pushing or shoving as men and women stood in line at the entrances to the venue. Those waiting to get in would periodically take up a chant or two; cries of “Diesel, Diesel” and “Go Nawaz Go” could be heard from nearly all corners. But there was no name-calling or abuse and most sloganeers restrained themselves, ostensibly due to a large presence of women and children there. Decked up in their Sunday best, young women, mothers with their children and even school girls added a lot of color to the festivities. Rubab, a first-time rally participant from Jhelum, told Dawn she had
never attended a public event like this one before. “Impressed by the respect afforded to women by PTI supporters at previous events, my family agreed to bring me to Islamabad for this rally,” she said, as her mother munched on a bag of freshly roasted peanuts from a nearby vendor. Compared to the pandemonium that ensued when the Azadi March reached the capital on August 15, Sunday’s show seemed better organized. This event was also distinct from previous PTI outings in the capital in terms of the demographic of people who turned out. Imran Khan’s whirlwind tour of Punjab with public rallies in nearly all major cities looked to have paid off, as an overwhelming majority of people at Sunday’s rally came from different parts of the province. “We hired a bus to bring us here. We’re here to prove that it’s not just the people of KP who are with Imran Khan; he is our leader too,” said a charged Ghulam Mohammad, who had come all the way from Gujrat. Taking a leaf out of the playbook of erstwhile sit-in partners, the Pakistan Awami Tehreek, PTI volunteers were out in full force on Sunday. Stationed at different points all over the venue, they were on hand to assist those in attendance and kept a constant eye out for anything untoward. Each party worker displayed an ID badge, clearly mentioning their duty at the venue. As it got dark, torch lights and mobile phones were used to guide women and the elderly through the crowd, helping them navigate some of the tricky terrain of Blue Area, which is currently closed for traffic due to work on the metro bus project. Residents of the twin cities were by far the largest group at the rally. “In August, we were apprehensive of the massive police deployment and the roadblocks and containers,” said Raza Hussain, who lives in Sector F-6. “But now, after having been to DChowk and seeing the daily routine, this seems normal to us,” he said. Residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad were especially grateful for the rally on Sunday, primarily because there was no gas load-shedding on Sunday. Much like in August, when power outages stopped in the capital for near-
ly a week, this time around too, people at home could warm their toes in front of gas heaters. Parts of Pindi that have seen only dry pipelines for weeks now were also treated to full gas pressure on the weekend. “My family is having homemade parathas for breakfast after nearly forty days because we have gas today,” said Asmat Zehra, who lives near Stadium Road in Rawalpindi. “Ordinarily, there would be no gas from six in the morning to midnight and we’ve been forced to fetch naans from the tandoor every day. I would have to wake up in the middle of the night to prepare food and we would warm it on an LPG cylinder stove,” she said. But PTI leader Asad Umar laughed off the move, saying, “These cheap tactics will never win hearts.”
Government for Resuming Dialogue with PTI
Islamabad: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided in principle to resume talks with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to resolve issues surrounding claims of rigging in the May 2013 general elections. PTI chairman Imran Khan had on Sunday announced “Plan-C” which would include shutter down strikes in Lahore, Faisalabad, Karachi, before bringing the entire country to a standstill if his demands to hold an impartial poll inquiry are not met by mid-December. Imran also warned of presenting a “Plan-D”, which he said would be more difficult for the government to tackle if his “Plan-C” failed to work. According to sources, the prime minister has tasked Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and some other “soft-spoken” party leaders, including Ahsan Iqbal, to revive the dialogue process. Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Khursheed Shah had also suggested that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif re-engage PTI in talks and end the drawn out political crises. Shah further urged the PM to take other political parties on-board for playing their role in convincing Imran and his party to move towards a settlement.
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Imran Unveils Plan C at Mammoth Nov 30 Gathering
Imran Khan meets charged party supporters
Islamabad: Unveiling his muchtalked-about ‘Plan-C’ at a mammoth rally on Sunday, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan threatened a countrywide shutdown on December 16 if his longstanding demand for an independent audit of the May 2013 elections was not accepted. “I will go to Lahore and shut it down on December 4. On December 8, I will shut down Faisalabad, on December 12, I will shut down Karachi, and on December 16, I will bring the entire country to a standstill if an inquiry is not initiated into the electoral fraud,” he told hundreds of thousands of his supporters on the Constitution Avenue in Islamabad. Frenzied PTI supporters had converged on the federal capital from across the country for a rally that Imran had promised would be ‘historic and decisive’. It was a carnival atmosphere at the Constitution Avenue where PTI supporters, clad in the colors of the party flag, sang and danced to party songs. And young women and children, with party flags painted on their faces, shouted slogans in favor of their leader. “I know the people of Lahore and Faisalabad are ready… I know Karachi is waiting for me,” Imran said, adding that his party was also ready for talks with the government. “The ball is now in your court, order investigations and resolve this issue,” Imran said addressing Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. “Otherwise, we will make it difficult for you to stay in power,” he said. After December 16, the PTI would announce its ‘Plan D’, Imran said, adding that his party would neither call off its 109-day-long sit-in or its struggle against the electoral fraud till justice was served. The PTI chief clarified that his agitation against the government was not for personal gains. “I’m not doing all this to become the country’s prime minister,” he added. Referring to previous rounds of talks, Imran said the ruling PML-N had agreed to form a judicial commission and an investigation commission [under the judicial commission] comprising officials from the InterServices Intelligence (ISI), Military Intelligence (MI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB). “Now we have given a fair proposal, the best we can offer, that the
prime minister should not resign during investigations and we will continue our sit-in but there is no response from the government,” he added. “We want investigations into rigging and a result within four to six weeks under the supervision of the Supreme Court.” The PTI chairman said his party has remained peaceful thus far, but what unfolded after December 4 would not be bearable for the rulers. “I am not asking for anything but my rights,” he said, adding that the status quo had left no option for him but to go to public. The PTI chief said his party had two options: to fight or to accept injustice. “But if we let this issue go and decide not to take a stand against the rigging, the ruling elite will also rig the next election and come to power again,” he said. Before making the big announcement, Imran put the entire scenario into perspective and discussed evidence – which the party claims it has – of pre- and post-elections rigging. He recalled his past statements where he had categorically said that he would take to streets if his rigging complaints were not addressed. “After the elections, I asked for investigations into four constituencies from my hospital bed and on my first day in the National Assembly. Then I went to the Supreme Court. But nothing happened because all were involved in match-fixing,” he claimed. He said it was through printing of extra ballots that the PML-N – which had received 6.8 million votes in 2008 elections – managed to bag 15 million votes in the 2013 elections. “The rulers rigged the elections and then denied us justice,” Imran pointed out. He said the rulers would not spend money on the people, since they came to power through rigging and fake votes, and would go for projects like Metro bus from which they could get billions of rupees in kickbacks instead of spending on health and education. The PTI chairman pointed out that in Pakistan 400,000 children died every year due non-availability of clean drinking water, a woman died every 30 minutes during delivery and 25 million children were out of school. Referring to Premier Nawaz Sharif ’s recent speech in Havelian wherein he complained that IMRAN, P29
PAKISTAN
P12 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014
Nawaz’s Government Is Better than Dictatorship: Zardari
PTI’s Latest Plans Will Die a Natural Death: PM
Lahore: While the Paki-
stan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stepped up pressure on the government for an audit of the 2013 elections on Sunday, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari reaffirmed his support for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying that the worst kind of democracy was better than a benign dictatorship. “Nawaz Sharif ’s government is better than the rule of ‘my-dear-countrymen’,” he said referring to the previous marshal laws in the country. “The PPP will not become a part of the conspiracy to derail democracy,” he told PPP supporters at a ceremony marking the party’s 47th foundation day at Bilawal House, Lahore. Former Pakistan President and PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari cuts a cake to mark the party’s “The PML-N wicket 47th foundation day at Bilawal House, Lahore will fall when the PPP desires,” the former president was based on the support were massively rigged in Punjab in the 2013 parliasaid and asked his sup- of a third umpire”. Zardari favor of the PML-N and mentary elections, triggerporters to “let the Kaptaan added that he spent 13-14 has been calling for an au- ing serious soul-searching play for now. The PPP will years in jail and faced tri- dit of the elections. Zardari in the party leadership. play on its own pitch”. He als and tribulations for the said his party also had resThe stage secretary, was referring to Imran sake of democracy. ervations about the elec- Senator Jehangir Badr, Khan’s ongoing campaign Zardari said that he tions but he didn’t react also had to face the wrath against the government. could not “set fire to the in a way that could under- of the workers who were Charged PPP workers boat of democracy which mine the country. unhappy with his strategy shouted ‘Go Nawaz, Go’ has been kept afloat by the “They [PTI lead- and raised slogans against and ‘Ro Imran, Ro’ (cry supporters of Zulfikar Ali ers] are unaware of the him. Imran cry) when Zardari Bhutto and Benazir Bhut- international conspiracy Earlier, a cake was started his speech. “I like to”. The derailment of de- against the state of Paki- cut to celebrate the 47th these slogans but we sup- mocracy would pave way stan,” Zardari said. “He foundation day of the PPP. ported democracy irre- for another dictatorship. [Imran] doesn’t know Former prime minister spective of our political “And I believe the worst what is happening in Af- Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, interests,” he told the audi- kind of democracy is bet- ghanistan, Iraq, Libya and Aitzaz Ahsan, Opposition ence. ter than a benign dictator- other Islamic states could Leader in the National have implications for Paki- Assembly Syed Khurshid Zardari said he had ship.” learnt the art of politics Referring to Imran, stan. To understand these Shah, Manzoor Wasan from his late wife, Benazir the PPP leader said “a things, he [Imran] should and other senior leaders Bhutto, who, according to wolf has been camping learn politics from a mas- of the party attended the ceremony. A resolution him, had a great vision. in Islamabad and pollut- ter politician,” he added. “She knew the intricacies ing [the political] enviEarlier, PPP Punjab was unanimously passed of world politics and un- ronment in the country”. President Mian Manzoor that expressed confidence derstood ground realities “There is a huge difference Ahmad Wattoo had to cut in the leadership of PPP very well,” he added. “Im- between his and our style his speech short as the ji- Chairman Bilawal Bhutto ran Khan doesn’t have any of politics. His politics is yalas shouted “Go Wattoo, and Co-chairman Asif Ali understanding of interna- myopic, while we are an- Go” during his address. Zardari. Chief Minister Sindh tional politics.” swerable to Garhi Khuda Watto praised the PPP coThe PPP co-chairman Bukhsh for our politics,” chairman for his politics Syed Qaim Ali Shah, said that Imran talked he said referring to the of reconciliation and said Rehman Malik, Manzoor about the ‘third umpire’ hometown of the Bhutto that his [Zardari’s] policies Wassan, Qamar Zaman would revive the party in Kaira, Mehreen Raja and in all his speeches which family. Raja Riaz were also pres“makes me believe that The PTI chief claims Punjab. The PPP was routed in ent at the ceremony. his entire cricketing career that the 2013 elections
Peshawar/Charsadda/Lahore: Activists of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) set up roadblocks and took out protests in different parts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) as part of a countrywide transport strike on Sunday, leaving Islamabad-bound supporters and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) stranded for several hours in many places. The strike call was given in response to the killing of JUI-F Sindh secretary general Dr Khalid Mehmood Soomro in Sukkur a day earlier. In Peshawar, JUI-F workers set up a roadblock on the Grand Trunk Road near Ring Road, halting the movement of a convoy of PTI supporters who were trying to reach the federal capital for their party’s much hyped rally. In Mardan, JUI-F activists blocked traffic near College Chowk before moving up towards the motorway interchange at Rashakai, holding up PTI convoys coming in
According to a news channel, the premier and Punjab CM decided to resume talks with PTI
Lahore: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
on Sunday advised Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to abandon its campaign of sit-ins and invited it to the negotiating table following the rejection of this brand of politics by an overwhelming majority of Pakistanis. The remarks came during a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif. According to sources, PM Nawaz said Imran’s party will have “to give up the dharna (sit-in) on the roads and come and sit across the negotiating table”. “The container group’s plan C and plan D will also fail like A and B and die their own death,” the PM said during a discussion on the national political situation with his younger brother at their Jati Umra residence in Raiwind. He claimed that some elements were hatching conspiracies against the elected government. But he said forces working on an anti- democracy and anti-constitution agenda have been exposed before the people. If PTI supporters are so concerned about the plight of the masses, they should raise these issues in parliament, the prime minister said. During the meeting, issues relating to national politics, economy, PTI agitation and its impact, development schemes in Punjab and other matters
Countrywide Strike: JUI-F Workers Hold up PTI Convoys for Hours from Shangla, Swat, Dir and Mardan. The JUI-F protesters similarly blocked the Nisata Interchange of the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway in Charsadda from 8am to 4pm, holding up traffic and forcing PTI convoys to take GT Road to Islamabad. Upon reaching Nowshera, PTI convoys were again held up by JUI-F protesters who had blocked GT Road for all kinds of traffic near Akora Khattak. Hundreds of PTI activists remained stranded for hours as a result. Elsewhere in Upper Dir, Swabi, Kohat, Hangu, DI Khan and Tank, JUI-F activists staged demonstrations and chanted slogans against the government over its failure to nab Dr Soomro’s killers. Protests were also
A police officer tries to convince JUI-F supporters to open the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway
staged in Karak and Mansehra, where
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scuffles were reported between JUI-F
of importance were discussed. The Punjab chief minister said that the provincial government has eased the conditions for acquiring loans under the self-employment scheme and also extended the last date for filing applications. According to a news channel, the premier and Punjab CM also decided to resume talks with PTI. Shahbaz Sharif said that agitations and sit-ins will have to end and the protesting parties will have to come to the negotiating table. “The country cannot bear any more agitation and confrontation,” he said. Call of concern: “How can we resume talks in this aggressive environment?” asked Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Pervaiz Rashid soon after the PTI chairman threatened to shut down all major cities if the government did not resolve the issue of polls fraud. “Dialogue could not be resumed until [PTI chairman] Khan sahib gives up his anti-state conspiracy,” said the information minister. “If PTI’s top leadership is really sincere about restarting negotiations, then first they will have to sit down in parliament,” he added. “Imran Khan has consumed all options he is looking for a safe exit now,” he told The Express Tribune. and PTI activists. JUI-F’s Abbottabad, Battagram and Haripur chapters also took out rallies. Despite confrontations with PTI workers in some places, JUI-F protesters by and large dispersed peacefully by Sunday afternoon. Even though they were held up for hours, PTI convoys from K-P were able to reach Islamabad without any incident. K-P Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak led a big procession from his native Nowshehra district while his cabinet members, including ministers, advisers and MPs led similar processions from different cities and towns. The main PTI procession, headed by the PTI’s Peshawar district president Yaseen Khalil, started from Peshawar’s Ring Road. Besides others, Shaukat Ali Yousafzai, Ziaullah Afridi also led thousands of their supporters to join the main procession.
PAKISTAN
DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P13
John Kerry Terms Pakistan Army a ‘Truly Binding Force’
‘Pakistan Trying to Pave Way for Asia Parliament’
Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif shakes hands with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday at the US Department of State in Washington
“This century is Asia’s century. The balance of power is shifting from the West to the East. We are serving as a bridge between South Asia and the Middle East,” says Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed
Islamabad: Chief of Army Staff Gen-
Lahore: Pakistan wants to work to-
eral Raheel Sharif met with US Secretary of State John Kerry on Sunday at the US Department of State, according to a Twitter update by Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asim Bajwa. During the meeting General Raheel Sharif presented Pakistan’s perspective on regional security issues. US Secretary of State John Kerry acknowledged Pakistan’s role in fighting terror and the sacrifices rendered by the country. He also praised the professionalism of Pakistan Army and termed the institution a ‘truly binding force’. Kerry also welcomed progress on improved ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan as a step towards regional stability and assured the United States’ full support in this regard. Praise from the US Secretary of State follows acknowledgment of Pakistan’s efforts by US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, Dan Feldman. The US envoy, after holding a meeting with Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, had said, “Yes, we all recognize that significant progress has been made” in the fight against terrorists since the North Waziristan operation. “We also recognize that more work needs to be done, but there’s true commitment from Gen Sharif to deliver on this,” said the US envoy. “People in Washington were very pleased with his commitment” to fighting all terrorists, including the Haqqani network, he said. Gen Sharif came to the United States on a two-week visit earlier this month for talks on strategic issues and on Operation Zarb-i-Azb. He has already met senior officials at the White House, the State Department and the US Department of Defense. He also met US services chiefs and visited headquarters of the US Central Command for talks on issues related to US strategies in the PakAfghan region. The Central Command oversees US military efforts in
Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. During his presentations in Washington, Gen Sharif assured the US administration that the operation in North Waziristan was directed against all terrorist groups. He told US officials, who were particularly concerned about the activities of the Haqqani network, that the Haqqanis were among the groups Pakistan was targeting and there were no exceptions in this operation. Senior US officials told Dawn that they found Gen Sharif “honest and straightforward” and had reasons to believe his assurance that Pakistan was now targeting the Haqqani network. General Raheel visits US military training center: Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif visited the Fort Irwin National Training Center as his US tour continued, Express News reported on Saturday. Spokesperson of Pakistan’s armed forces Asim Bajwa took to his twitter account, tweeting that General Raheel Sharif visited the US Military National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irvin, California. The army chief reviewed the training system of the US team and appreciated their efforts. He was briefed on their training procedures and advanced warfare equipment. Later, Gen Raheel visited Stanford where he presented Pakistan’s perspective. He said that Pakistanis have stood together, braved the menace of terrorism, and have paid a huge price. He added that the sacrifice of Pakistanis needs to be understood by the world. Earlier this week, General Raheel held in-depth discussions on the ongoing security issues between Pakistan and US, and both sides reaffirmed a mutual desire to strengthen their relationship. Gen Raheel meets US security adviser: General Raheel Sharif met US National Security Adviser Ambassador Susan Rice at the White House, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said on Thursday.
General Raheel and Rice held in-depth discussions on the ongoing security issues involving Pakistan and the United States and expressed satisfaction on the overall positive trajectory in the bilateral relationship. Pakistan’s ambassador to US, Jalil Abbas Jilani, was also present during the meeting. Both sides reaffirmed their mutual desire and commitment to strengthen their existing relationship. General Sharif thanked Ambassador Rice for understanding Pakistan’s perspective on regional security and counter terrorism efforts, said the statement. The military chief also apprised Rice on the situation prevailing in the region, including the violation of the ceasefire and shelling by India on the Line of Control and the Working Boundary. According to the statement issued by military’s media wing, both the dignitaries acknowledged the importance of reinforcing stability in Afghanistan. In this regard, Rice appreciated the high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Afghanistan following the transfer of power in Afghanistan. HEALTH FROM P15
from news, politics, education, health, sports, comedy and talk shows to channels dedicated to cooking, fashion, health, fitness, music, business, religion, local languages and cultures etc. In addition to empowering Pakistani women, the media has had a profound influence on how many young people learn, talk, dress and behave, and emulate the outspoken media personalities, various experts, actors, preachers, singers, sportsmen, celebrities and fashion models. The growth in Pakistan’s media market has resulted in more useful information, more advertising, more competition and more choice for the public. Here’s a video clip of the AFP report on Pakistan’s Health TV Channel: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2b32nf_in-pakistan-new-tv-showlifts-veil-on-sex-taboos_news
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wards an Asian Parliament on the pattern of European Parliament, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said on Saturday. He was briefing journalists about the 7th plenary session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) starting in the city on Monday. Syed said the theme of this year’s conference was Quest for Asian Parliament in Asian Century. “This century is Asia’s century. The balance of power is shifting from the West to the East. We are serving as a bridge between South Asia and the Middle East,” said Syed who is also chairman of the APA’s Organizing Committee. The senator briefed the journalists about the assembly, its structure, committees, the women Asian parliamentary forum and its agendas. Senate Chairman Syed Nayyer Hussain Bokhari is the chairman of the APA for two years. “The future of Asia depends largely on the regional leadership. It is time for leaders to join hands and shape the future of Asia,” Syed said. The senator said the Monday conference would be the biggest international parliamentary conference in the history of Lahore. He said the APA’s vision was presented in Islamabad in November 2004 when the Association of Asian Parliaments for Peace decided to transform itself into an APA. “Pakistan will now present a vision to transform the APA into an Asian Parliament,” he said. He informed Pakistan had been playing a leadership role in the APA by presenting various ideas and initiatives. Syed said Asian leaders needed to discuss the issues the continent faced. “This assembly is the right platform for such a discussion,” he said. The senator said Indian efforts to isolate Pakistan had failed. Today, Pakistan was being courted by China, Russia and the US. “Nobody should think that people don’t want to come to Pakistan. Distinguished delegates from 25 countries are arriving here for the three-day conference,” he said.
Syed said the APA would look forward to have a media forum for cooperation and exchanges among Asian journalists. Irrelevance of report: Mushahid said the government’s silence, in response to the recently released US Pentagon report alleging state patronage of Pakistan-based militants attacking Afghanistan and India, was due to its ‘irrelevance’. The ground realities have changed in Pakistan with the launch of all-out war against militants in the form of Operation Zarb-e-Azb being waged in North Waziristan. “So it’s not really a policy. The kind of high-profile warm reception accorded to Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif in the US and the fact that this so-called ‘report’ wasn’t mentioned at all signifies its irrelevance,” Mushahid added. About Indian prime minister’s uncompromising stance on meetings of Pakistan officials with Kashmiri leaders, the former member of the National Assembly Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir said Narendra Modi’s Pakistan policy is driven by a hardline Hindutva agenda, inspired by domestic politics, where the need for his party BJP to strengthen its core constituency is detrimental to peace, security and stability in South Asia. Calling Modi “an aberration in a changed world that seeks cooperation not confrontation”, Mushahid said Pakistan is being courted by China, the US and Russia concurrently, and has solid friends in the South Asian region. Senator Mushahid reiterated his statements that the recent attacks by India on the Working Boundary and the Line of Control (LoC) were preplanned. Asked whether the APA would be able to achieve its goals of regional cooperation, he said similar apprehensions were raised at the time of the formation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. “The Asian Parliament is a doable vision. After all, the European Parliament and the Pan African Parliament are a reality,” the senator said.
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P14 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014
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DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P15
Top UK Surgeon to Train Pakistani Doctors in Robotic Surgery
“Pakistan has great potential for multi-discipline robotic surgery systems and we all believe such surgical methods would be a common sight in years to come,” says 48-year-old Dr Prokar Dasgupta
Karachi: One of the pio-
neers of modern robotic urological surgery in the United Kingdom and internationally-acclaimed surgeon is going to assist Pakistan in adopting futuristic methods in medicine. “Pakistan has great potential for multi-discipline robotic surgery systems and we all believe such surgical methods would be a common sight in years to come,” said 48-year-old Dr Prokar Dasgupta whose research undertakings have benefited the entire world. Speaking to Dawn after delivering a guest-lecture at the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), he said the world was using robotics in many disciplines, including prostatectomy, removal of cancerous uterus, ear, nose and throat infections, thyroid and plastic surgeries. Robotic surgery was machine-controlled, but needed a surgeon be-
side a giant state-of-the-art console to oversee the procedures. He spoke about the da Vinci Surgical System, a sophisticated robotic platform designed to expand the surgeon’s capabilities and offer a modern minimal invasive option for a major surgery. With the System, small incisions are made to insert miniaturized wristed instruments and a high-definition 3D camera. “The surgeon sitting at the console views a magnified high-resolution 3D image of the surgical site inside a patient’s body,” he informed. The latest robotic and computer technologies scale down, filter and seamlessly translate the surgeon’s hand movements into precise micro-movements with the da Vinci instruments. “You call it a robot, but it cannot move on its own, it is the surgeon who fully controls it,”
he explained. “Although the time required for a surgery is not more different for a robot than a surgeon who undertakes it without its assistance, the advanced method guarantees much lesser possibility of infection, negligible bleeding, less pain and quicker recovery of a patient,” he said. “By this method, a patient can recover quickly: for instance if one recovers from a normal surgery in six months, this method helps a patient to convalesce in one month,” said Dr Dasgupta, adding that that could be beneficial for an overall economic activity let alone the patient’s own health and recovery. He added that his country of birth, neighbouring India, had attained considerable advancement in this field. “India was not that advanced just a few years ago, but now it has got a
large number of surgery robots with the help of the Vattikuti Urology Institute.” He said that he had offered his all-out help to the SIUT to train its doctors and staff in operating robots. He equated the SIUT with Guy’s Hospital in London founded 300 years ago when medical facilities were not available to the poor. Guy’s Hospital began to offer free-of-cost medical service to the public. “Now we see the same spirit behind the establishment of the SIUT,” he added. Prof Adib-ul-Hasan Rizvi, director of SIUT, said that Dr Prokar Dasgupta would train Pakistani doctors and paramedic staff in robotic urological surgery. At present two such surgical systems were available in the Qatar Hospital and the Civil Hospital Karachi, Prof Rizvi informed. Another visiting professor - Dr Shamim Khan of the Guy’s and St Thomas’ London Hospital -, briefed the symposium participants about recent advances in surgical procedures for enlarged prostate. Professor Matin Sheriff, also from t h e same hospital, updated the audience with his experiences o n laparoscopic s u rgery in urology.
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Health TV Channel Takes on Taboo Subjects in Pakistan
T
n By Riaz Haq CA
aboo subjects ranging from sex drive to abortion to breast cancer are being addressed on air by call-in show hosts on Health TV channel in conservative Muslim Pakistan, according to an AFP report.
Founded three years ago, Health TV is something of an odd fit in Pakistan, a conservative Islamic state of 180 million people which saw an explosion of private broadcasters in the early 2000s following the liberalization agenda of former President Pervez Musharraf, says the AFP report. Call-in Questions: “My husband doesn’t want to make love anymore, what should I do doctor?” asks a housewife. “Under what circumstances is abortion permissible in Islam”? asks another caller. While the first question is addressed by a physician in a clinical way as follows: “We call this loss of libido... it occurs when you have a low level of testosterone. You should work on your husband’s diet, feed him more fish and push him to exercise,” he says. “God willing your husband will get better.” The second question regarding abortion is answered by a cleric: “If anything like this is done to save the life of a mother, then sharia (Islamic law) allows abortion,” says cleric Shahid Madani. Media Market: Since President Musharraf ’s deregulation of the media, television has become the dominant medium in the Pakistan media market,
with more than three-fourths of adults (76.2%) watching weekly, according to media research data released recently by the US Broadcasting Board of Governors. In addition to over 100 television channels, more than 100 private FM radio stations have been licensed in the last ten years. Most of them are known for providing basic entertainment - easy listening, popular music, cooking recipes, etc. But some FM stations are also providing useful information through talk shows by experts on legal, psychological and health matters; a community radio station in Lakki Marwat near FATA has a show on modern farming techniques like drip irrigation. In Karachi, at a discussion on organ transplant and organ donation, a caller who identified herself as a doctor, pointed out that those who denounce the practice as un-Islamic forget that technically even blood is defined as an organ. I personally experienced the pervasive effects of Pakistan’s media boom during my visits there. I saw multiple, competing channels catering to almost every niche, whim and taste--HEALTH, P13
P16 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014
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IVEDCO Dallas, TX P 800.333.0660 F 972.929.7106 www.ivedco.com
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STELLAR HOME HEALTH Cerritos, CA P 909.621.5188 F 909.399.9119
WOMEN
P18 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAKISTAN LINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DECEMBER 5, 2014 WOMENS WORLD
DECEMBER 5, 2014 - PAKISTAN LINK
especially for daytime, so go for a shade that suits your complexion. At night you can opt for a maroon lip colour. Coming to the eyes, these days molten metallic shades - silver, gold, grey and bronze - are very much in. But go for these shades when going out at night or for formal dinners. If you want to keep it simple, wear your pink cream blusher on your eyes and then apply double winged eyeliner. Don't forget to wear loads of mascara to give your eyes that dramatic look. Mona
Hair affair: About hair trends that are in fashion this winter Mona shares that 'Brond Ombre' is the it look for this season. Brond Ombre is a blend of shades of blonde and brown and looks very classy. Also 3D technique, which is a combination of various hair dyeing techniques, and blended highlight in hues of copper, mocha and medium blonde are very much in vogue. Coming to hairstyles, Mona says that the '60s backcombing style is back and front poofs/bouffant are a complete no no this season. Also, curls and wavy hair is quite in rage these days and the hair trend for winter is the magic curls.
By M. Shirazi
A
ll set to look sophisticated, trendy yet elegant this chilly season? Makeup is an essential tool to complete any look. And for the sake of achieving that flawless look we have to get all the information about the latest beauty trends that the winter season brings forth. The fact is that women love make-up not only because it corrects any flaws they find in their skin, but also because makeup gives them the power to experiment with their looks. This week You! talks to makeup artist Mona J. who shares the latest makeup trends that you can try and flaunt this winter. Read on... Regarding the latest makeup trends Mona J says, "There has been a revolutionary shift from powdery and cakey base/foundation to more dewy and glowy bases. This is the major trend these days where the base should have a water shine. However, many women tend to go overboard and opt for oily foundations and apply lots of shimmery products. The result is a face that looks like a disco ball." Wondering how to get that dewy base? Well, Mona shares some steps that you can follow to achieve that perfect look. Here's how you do it... According to Mona, the first step is to prepare your skin and use products that suit your skin type. The pre-makeup steps include using a face wash and cleansing your face with a cleanser. It is important to normalize the skin and for that make sure to use a toner if you want to get a glow on your face. Then apply a primer that has illuminisers or glowy pearl agents in it. Mona suggests to go for 'Makeup Forever' illuminiser in
says to steer clear from kajal as it is totally out this winter.
Tips by the maestro: Here are a few tips by the expert Mona J on what type of makeup and hair should be worn with particular shades of outfits... Paint the town red If you are wearing a deep red outfit, then go for a shimmery/dewy base. Go for a blush in natural or pink shade. For eyes Mona suggests to opt for matte light smokey eyes
light pink hue. This will give a very natural and rosy shine. The next step is to apply high definition liquid base (MAC, Sephora or Makeup Forever) mixed with 2 to 3 drops of clear gloss. Mix together the two and dot it all over your face. Blend it well. If you feel that your dark circles are still prominent then apply a concealer. And end it off by applying a high definition transparent powder under the eyes, sides of your nose and around the lips. Colour me pretty: Now that you have a beautiful and glowy face. It's time to add some colour to your face. Mona advises to apply rosy pink cream blusher on your cheeks and blend it from the centre moving back to the cheekbones. For the lips, pinks and mauves are very much in vogue
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by using shades of grey. Go for lash extensions with lots of mascara as it looks dramatic yet chic. Keep the lips light and apply brown and pink gloss mixed together. Go for magic curls or beachy waves for your hairstyle. Voila you are set to rock your red outfit. Monochrome is the way to go We all know that these days monochrome - contrast of black and white - is hot. If you have chosen a monochromatic outfit then Mona advises to again go for the glowy base as that is the biggest trend that Hollywood celebs like Kim Kardashian are opting for. For eyes go for a flick out eyeliner and apply loads of mascara. These days Ombre lips are quite popular and look great with a monochrome outfit. Apply a dark maroon lip liner and in the centre wear a pink lipstick. Now with a lip brush, blend the maroon liner with the pink lipstick so that there is no definite line visible. In the end redo your lip liner. However, make sure to use matte lip colours as glossy hues won't give the desired Ombre effect. Choose a '60s hairstyle and you are all set to go. Courtesy The News
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DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P19
Friday, December 5, 2014
VOL. 24/49 PAGE 20
Building Bridges between Muslims and Non-Muslims
13 Safar 1436 H
PAGE PAGE23 17
egum PAGE 21
Shifa Community Clinic Fundraiser in Sacramento
Eavesdropping on Official Led to Inquiry
For news, updated round the clock, visit
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Mission Accomplished: The Heroic Story of Babar & Haris Suleman’s Flight for Education
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n By Amjad Noorani
he heart-wrenching story begins with two intrepid pilots who set out to raise awareness – and $1 million – to educate Pakistani children by attempting to fly around the world in 30 days. Tragically, both lost their lives when their single-engine aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean on the final leg of the adventure, but there is no doubt that the mission was accomplished. Their courageous journey has so far collected more than $2.5 million to help some of the world’s poorest girls and boys.
With a heavy heart, we offer this story as a tribute to Babar Suleman and his teenage son, Haris. Babar, 58, an engineer of Pakistani origin, had a passion for flying which had rubbed off on his son Haris, 17, a high school junior who got his private pilot license just a few months before embarking on their ambitious trip. To be pilot in command or PIC through the entire flight, ‘Captain’ Haris also completed special training for his instrument rating just days before taking off from their home base of Plainfield, Indiana. As their planning progressed, Babar spoke with his close friend Azher Khan, a director on the board of a well-recognized education non-profit – The Citizens Foundation, USA. Babar felt strongly about choosing TCF as the beneficiary of their mission and he set a goal to raise a million dollars for education. Much more on this a little later. In preparing his Beech Bonanza single engine airplane for the long and highly demanding trip, Babar had added extra fuel tanks and high quality avionics. He also added the TCF green leaf logo to the fuselage to express support for education (picture). Like any teenager, Haris was just happy to be on an adventure of a lifetime—and a noble mission to give the flight an added purpose: a storybook adventure and mission that he hoped to tell his friends and family for years to come. Haris was excited about seeing the world and couldn’t wait to get going. Finally, on June 19, 2014, as they rolled down the runway, the mission had taken wings. Next stop: the Canadian Forces Base at Goose Bay and
(Above): Babar and Haris Suleman prepare for their round-the-world journey. (Below): Haris Suleman is greeted by TCF students on arrival in Karachi
on to Reykjavik, Iceland. With prudent planning, they hopped over the northern land masses to get across the Atlantic, reaching England on June 26. There was a stop in Rome and then across the Mediterranean to Egypt. (Haris blogged with glee about his trip to the Pyramids). After a brief stop in the United Arab Emirates, they landed in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore, Pakistan, to a rousing welcome from elite officers of the air force along with TCF supporters, friends and family. The flight continued to Sri Lanka, Kuala Lumpur and eastward
to Bali, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Reading their blogs and emails, one could sense that Babar and Haris were excited to be on the home stretch of the Pacific and, leaving American Samoa, the plan was to head for Hawaii, on to California and then home to Indiana. That’s when things went wrong on July 22nd, just 23 miles off the American Samoa. The Beech Bonanza crashed into the Pacific Ocean. The shock to the family, friends and TCF supporters who had followed their adventure was beyond description. Yet, in many ways, it is what
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has happened since that terrible day that has illustrated how a silver lining can shine through even the darkest of clouds. In those difficult hours and days after the accident, as family and friends grieved the loss, they found solace in the knowledge that the young lives of Babar and Haris were not lost in vain. During their flight, they visited some TCF schools in Pakistan and met the boys and girls benefiting from the mission to bring a quality education to some of the country’s most dilapidated urban slums and poor rural areas. They saw firsthand
how the money they were raising would help these children. It was a message the family wanted underlined in the aftermath of the accident. But nobody could guess then just how much of a legacy the Sulemans would leave behind. They had already raised a substantial amount for TCF in Indianapolis, and they were half way to their goal as they flew from country to country, telling well-wishers why support for education in Pakistan was so important. After the crash, the money has continued to pour in from old friends and from total strangers touched by their story. Two successful entrepreneurs, both old school friends of Babar, have made substantial contributions. Ashar Aziz of Silicon Valley donated enough to make the Sulemans’ $1 million fund-raising goal a reality. Another vivid illustration of Babar and Haris’s impact is of Ejaz Shameem’s renewed commitment to support TCF. Mr Shameem, a civil engineer and owner of an Illinois firm, attended school with Babar in Sargodha, Pakistan. The friendship was revived when both migrated to the US. Ironically, Shameem first heard of TCF in 1997 while in South Korea on business, from a column by the well-known Karachi activist-philanthropist Ardeshir Cowasjee who was a major TCF supporter. (A flagship TCF school campus is the ‘Cowasjee Campus’ which houses seven school units). On Mr Cowasjee’s word, Shameem became a TCF donor and has followed its phenomenal growth. So, when Babar and Haris announced their plans, Shameem committed to funding a school - “in memory and gratitude for my parents and for my motherland.” In the wake of the accident, Shameem felt the urge to do much more and has committed to build a cluster of four TCF schools in Okara, Punjab, and to give lifetime support for the schools through TCF’s ‘Future Fund’ endowment program. Local TCF chapters across the US have also raised hundreds of thousands of dollars at fund-raising galas dedicated to the lost pilots. “Would I give up the funds and have them back? Yes, in a heartbeat,” said Azher Khan, Babar’s close friend and head of the TCF Indiana EDUCATION, P29
P20 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014
Building Bridges between Muslims and Non-Muslims n By Kiran Gund
T
American University Washington, DC
he Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University Washington, DC and the former Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, tackled the dynamic subject of contemporary relations between Muslims and non-Muslims during the course of his recent talk at “Chai Time” in Potomac, Maryland.
Chai Time is a multicultural community service organization started in 2000 by Bano Makhdoom to facilitate a multicultural and intellectual forum for speakers to present a variety of topics while facilitating opportunities for conversation and networking. It was a packed hall for Ambassador Ahmed’s talk. The audience represented the Who’s who of the community with guests from the World Bank and State Department, and the leaders of the Pakistani community such as Senator Akbar Khwaja and Masood Ahmed of the IMF. It was also an interfaith gathering with members of the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities in attendance. Ambassador Ahmed opened his talk by highlighting the need for global citizens to exercise compassion though the usage of scholarly dialogue. Although the 21st cen-
tury witnessed a greater degree of intermixing of individuals due to forces of globalization, there is still a lack of academic appreciation of cultures, religions and global affairs that triggers misunderstandings and in consequence, cultivates breeding grounds for hate crimes. Ambassador Ahmed continued by reminding Americans of their obligation to engage in their pluralist society, which is the pillar of the American identity established by the founding fathers. He reaffirmed the peacefulness of Islam and its ability to be accommodated in both the American and global society. After all, the two most prominent names of Allah in the Qur’an are Al-Rahman and Al-Raheem: the most compassionate and the most merciful. Ambassador Ahmed carried out his quest for spreading understanding with his dialogue in the 1990’s England among the Jews, Christians and Muslims. However, the 9/11 terrorist attacks complicated the contextual environment that Islam occupied. 9/11 also brought Islam at the forefront of the stage, however Islam received negative, inaccurate media, which exacerbated relations between Islamic societies and the Western world. In response to this complication, Ambassador Ahmed conducted a quartet of studies published by Brookings Press in which he examined relations between the West and the World of Islam after 9/11: Jour-
Dr Akbar Ahmed addresses the gathering
ney into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization (2007); Journey into America: The Challenge of Islam (2010); The Thistle and the Drone: How America’s War on Terror Became a Global War on Tribal Islam (2013); and Journey into Europe: Islam, Immigration, and Empire (forthcoming). All four projects centered on common themes of intercultural relations and transcending cultural barriers. Ambassador Ahmed’s talk highlighted his continuous study of intercultural relations in Europe. In the most recent project, Journey to Europe, Ambassador Ahmed examines the historical relationship between Europe and the Muslim world and the current issues that both worlds undergo. During the question and an-
swer session, the audience was lively and engaged, with many important questions being asked of Ambassador Ahmed. One audience member wished to know if Muslims in the USA are better off than Muslims in Europe? Yes, replied Ambassador Ahmed. Muslims can often lead better lives in the USA than in Europe. The Muslims that arrive in Europe are guest workers; they are temporary immigrants seeking to send money back home. Most occupy low-skilled jobs. Muslims in the USA desire permanent residence. So, they are more inclined to establish themselves by climbing the social and economic ladder. Also, most originate from middle-class background and arrive with academic and professional credentials.
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Following this comparison of the Muslim community, another participant asked how do Americans and Europeans address homegrown terrorism. Ambassador Ahmed responded by observing that societies must challenge the notion that American and European values are incompatible with Islam. Moreover, the Muslim community must intervene when a member is noticed for his or her dissonance with the outside society. Interfaith dialogue can be the glue to sow the torn social fabric caused by differences. The audience was also concerned about the future. Ambassador Ahmed stated that he could not predict the future, however he could assess the present. He said the Middle East is experiencing huge plate tectonic shifts which spark turbulence that affects the rest of the world. He declared that the world is at a critical point: we can tip forward to stability and peace or we can continue being trapped in a cycle of violent conflict. But we need to make that first step towards peace. The process of building bridges between Muslims and nonMuslims needs to start with dialogue between communities such as the one I experienced at Chai Time. (Kiran Gund is an undergraduate student studying international relations at American University’s School of International Service in Washington, DC)
PTI Fundraiser in Anaheim Draws Enthusiastic Supporters n By Masood Syed Pictures by Anwar Khawaja
Anaheim, CA: Pakistan Tehreek-e-
Insaf Southern California Chapter hosted a fundraiser event for PTI on November 14th, 2014. Ali Haider Zaidi, member of PTI Central Executive committee, was the keynote speaker on the occasion. Mr Zaidi was on a tour of the US on behalf of PTI to raise funds and awareness for the Azadi March. Highlights of the event were a live address from the PTI Chairman Imran Khan via Skype, Ali Zaidi’s speech and enthusiastic participation in the fundraiser by the attendees. The event was hosted at Anaheim Plaza Hotel in Anaheim, CA and was attended by about three hundred PTI supporters from all over Southern CA. The proceed-
n By Fatima Farooki
H
elping Hand USA held its 2014 Annual Banquet on Saturday, November 15th 2014, at The Hotel Fullerton. The guest speakers on the memorable day included Dr Muzammil Siddiqi, Imam Taha Hassane, Sh. Hasan Elwan, and Qari Yousuf.
The event started with the Invocation and Dua by Qari Yousuf . Moderator Naadir Soofi introduced our Regional Coordinator, Ishrat Rahman, who thanked guests in attendance and accepted the hospitality of the Helping Hand West Region Corona Office. He expressed his gratitude and that of the entire Helping Hand team. He drew the attention of the audience to the mission and vision of Helping Hand and how the organization is working tirelessly to eradicate poverty and to uplift and empower the needy peo-
ings started with a recitation of the Holy Qur’an and its translation by two young children, Eshal Burhan and Waleed Qazi. Atiya Niyazi made the opening remarks and welcomed the audience. Dr Mohammad Razaq, President of PTI USA LLC addressed the gathering and apprised them up of the recent activities of PTI USA. Throughout the evening, PTI theme songs were played and video clips
were projected. After dinner, Imran Khan joined the event via Skype and was greeted by the crowd with PTI slogans and cheers. The PTI chairman addressed the gathering and talked about the important role of overseas Pakistanis and reminded everyone about the value of the journey ahead. Next Ali Zaidi addressed the audience and told them about the plight of the common man in Paki-
stan. He also shed light on the struggles and history of PTI. The speeches were followed by a fundraiser in which the attendees participated with open hearts. Arshad Ali and t Project 26 band entertained the crowd with live music. The evening was wrapped up with everyone joining in and singing the national anthem of Pakistan. This event was held with the support of PTI USA LLC board
HHRD’s 2014 Annual Banquet
ple globally. He also talked about the programs of Helping Hand and the current relief efforts being made by the organization though the generous support of donors. The programs which have been really helpful this year included the Skills Development Centers for Women in Pakistan, Jordan and Africa and Education support for students, orphans as well as rebuilding of schools in
Pakistan, Africa, Jordan and Syria. The Ramadan Food Drive this year enabled us to ship many containers to help the Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Our Annual Global Zabiha, Qurbani, Udhibya program fed many needy people in 55 countries during this year. Most of the beneficiaries eat meat only once a year when HHRD distributes the meat which our generous donors order
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for them. We had wonderful speakers at the event. First we had Dr Muzammil Siddiqi who has been a supporter of Helping Hand since our first office was opened in 2009 in Southern California. His speech was very inspiring and reminded us that we have to help all the needy people wherever they are. He gave examples about the rewards and blessings of
members Dr. M. Razaq and Sherry Khan and was organized with the support of a large team of PTI CA members and volunteers that included Mohammad Qazi, Faisal Khan, Sharjeel Aslam, Kamran Meraj, Atiya Niyazi, Raza Mubin, Fazal Haq, Shazia Syed, Awab Ali, Ausaf Ali, Faraz Akber, Mohammad Ahsan, Sana Husnain, Zafaryab and Nooreen Niazi, and this scribe. helping others in need. The next speaker was Sh. Hasan Elwan who enlightened the gathering on the importance of helping others and avoiding greed, earning Halal and spending in the path of Allah. He emphasized that money spent charitably in helping others is returned completely in this world and in the hereafter. We were then inspired by Imam Taha Hassane who made many good recommendations to increase the blessings and rewards we receive from Allah for our charitable work and donations. He emphasized the need for supporting the global struggle of the needy and also victims of natural disasters. Another exciting and enjoyable feature of the evening was the auction of actual Shop N Help merchandise that originates from the Helping Hand Skills HHRD, P29
COMMUNITY
DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P21
Shifa Community Clinic Fundraiser in Sacramento
Since the Shifa Community Clinic is a non-profit, student-run medical facility, it relies on donations and volunteers to stay open. On November 22nd it held its 12th Annual Fundraising Banquet to replenish its resource base. The venue was the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel located within the UC Davis Main Hospital complex
T
n By Ras H. Siddiqui
he Shifa Community Clinic (http://shifaclinic.org/) is a unique medical facility located adjacent to the Downtown Sacramento Muslim Mosque. It can trace its origins back to the year 1994 when two area physicians decided to operate a clinic for disadvantaged and uninsured patients (mainly from within the Sacramento Muslim community), located in a venue provided by the Downtown Mosque (one of the oldest in the United States). But good ideas cannot remain isolated.
In the year 2000 Dr Shagufta Yasmeen and two medical students, Nasser Abdo and Mahmoud Traina from the University of California, Davis encouraged by members of the local Islamic community led by Bashir Choudary and Dr Najme Minhaj formalized the arrangement and the Shifa Community Clinic officially came into being. Subsequently, in June 2005 Shifa became officially affiliated with the area’s University of California Davis School of Medicine in a three-part agreement which
included the Muslim Mosque Association. It still caters to the disadvantaged and the uninsured but has a much wider reach today and also caters to communities other than Muslims, South Asians and Middle Easterners, including African Americans, Hispanics and other Asians. Since the Shifa Community Clinic is a non-profit, student-run medical facility, it relies on donations and volunteers to stay open. On November 22nd it held its 12th Annual Fundraising Banquet to replenish its resource base. The venue was the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel located within the UC Davis Main Hospital complex. Over 100 people attended this multi-ethnic and religious gathering which started with guest arrival and social mixer along with a silent auction. Welcoming everyone, Dr Shagufta Yasmeen reflected on the vision of Shifa Community Clinic and detailed its activities over a one-year period (July 2013 to June 2014). During this period of 73 operational days, there were 978 medical visits, 112 new patients added with a total number of 3,328 patients under the
Shifa umbrella. To name a few here, Shifa offers a wide variety of health services including primary care, a women’s clinic, chronic care, an annual Retinopathy clinic, dermatology, breast health including free mammograms, health education for women, colorectal cancer screening and a prescription assistance program. Dr Yasmeen also detailed the funding sources for the clinic including amounts from last year’s fundraiser, grants, business donations, student fundraisers and donations from patients. She also elaborated on several other aspects of the Shifa model including education, the partnership with UC Davis, community outreach and engagement, capacity building (expansion of the clinic), community board and community partnerships. After dinner it was time for youth to step forward and Manjot Sandhu presented the findings of a survey, a group effort on “Covered California Awareness in the Middle Eastern and South Asian Community”. In this thoughtful and in-depth study, it was found that more work needed to be done to spread knowl-
edge about the “Affordable Care Act” which everybody still knows as Obamacare in the communities surveyed. It appears that very few people are aware of the differences in the plans offered under this act and not too many know whether they can afford it or not. And that the solution might just be investing in funding culturally conscious marketing, developing educational interventions and in training select members of the community to spread the word. A group of four student volunteers next shared the mission and the vision of the organization with us and where things stand today. This was followed by a rendition of Urdu poetry “Lab Pe Aati Hai Dua” (A prayer comes to my lips) originally written by Iqbal and presented here by Nainwant and Pranaya. And last but not least under the segment of “Empowering Tomorrows Healthcare Leaders” Fatima Awan and Hammad Khan shared not just their own Shifa experiences with us but in the process proved that young people today are just plain sharp! Next, event emcee Talat Siddiqui introduced keynote speaker
Imam Muhammad Abdul Azeez MD to both inspire us and conduct the fundraiser. Imam Azeez said that he was privileged to be here. He spoke about the healing powers of God and those that serve the Lord through serving his people. He said that in serving others you are not just helping them but yourselves. He added that the work that Shifa is doing beats the efforts of many Imams put together! After the fundraiser three individuals from the community were recognized for their support of Shifa and the community over the years. Dr Robert Rudas, Dr Alireza and Mr Ameer Alsawaf were given plaques of appreciation on behalf of Shifa. Dr Rudas was generous with his comments and pointed out that Shifa was a great way to counter bigotry against Muslims in this country today. Bashir Choudry, Najme Minhaj, Basim Elkarra and Shazia Bashir also took the opportunity to say a few words while the concluding remarks were presented by Dr Shagufta Yasmeen. Approximately, a sum of $37,000 was collected according to last estimates during this fundraiser.
Masjid Community Holds First Successful Health Fair in Maryland
H
n By Dr Zafar Iqbal
ealthcare has been a big issue for new immigrants, especially elderly people. While Medicare is available to virtually all citizens, starting at age 65, immigrants legally present in the US for less than five years are not eligible and private insurance companies generally do not offer health insurance plans for those over 65.
Although there are health insurance options, but these are usually catastrophic traveler’s insurance. They usually have a very high deductible and are very expensive. In view of these harsh realities facing the elderly community members from the Subcontinent, the Masjid Gulzar E Madina of Islamic Center Millford Mill Road, Pikesville, Maryland took a bold initiative to organize the first health fair on Sunday, November 23. A number of area community organizations, such as the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)- Metropolitan Washington, Philippines Nurses Association, Chinese Culture and Community Center, Muslim Community Clinic Inc., Silver Spring, Capital Region Telugu Society,
A few stalls at the health fair
Kerala Cultural Organization and Hindu Seva, co-sponsored this event. A large number of physicians, nurses, and healthcare workers volunteered their resources and worked tirelessly to provide healthcare services for a large number of attendees covering a wide range of ages. An easy access to physicians of diverse specialties under one roof provided convenient consultation for wide range of medical issues. In addition to primary care, the medical specialties available for free consultations in a privacy setting included dentistry, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology-oncology,
From left: Dr Sam Mukherjee, Mr Mayur Mody, Dr Zafar Iqbal, and Dr Surinder Singh Gill
otolaryngology, orthopedics, rheumatology and medical ID cards for the community. Colgate sponsored the dental van provided dental consultation for children ages 1 to 12. Maryland Physicians Care Van made Nutritional healthy food, Amerigroup sponsored Moon Bounce. Columbia Lite House Van did eye sight screenings. The health fair also provided action, where yoga enthusiasts displayed their skills and love for healthy living. Besides yoga sessions on site, there were diabetes and cancer prevention education vendors, healthy living demos and advice booths. Mental
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and behavioral health information, often a taboo topic, was sensitively offered by Counselors Helping South Asians/ Indians (Chai). The Samar Group obtained bone marrow sign ups and the Washington Regional Transplant enrolled organ donor. “The Metropolitan Washington Chapter of GOPIO is very pleased to be a part of this outstanding health fair, which was made possible by the collaboration of physicians, allied medical personnel, county and state health agencies, dedicated volunteers, and Masjid management, ” said Dr Zafar Iqbal President of the GOPIO DC
Chapter. This successful event was coordinated by Mayur Mody and the management of Islamic Center thanked him for providing excellent leadership with efficient and indefatigable energy. The logistics team was coordinated by Dr. Surinder Singh Gill and Dr Alif Manijwala served as coordinator of medical team and Dr Sukhpal headed the team of volunteers. The health fair was open to people of all ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds and over 400 people were able to get medical consultation.
P22 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014 n By Bina Shah Karachi, Pakistan
I
Flying Feckless in Karachi
t was a scene out of a cinema farce. Pakistan International Airlines Flight PK-370 was scheduled to take off from Karachi to Islamabad early one evening in September, but it had been delayed for two hours — a mechanical problem, the crew claimed.
Then a crew member confessed: The plane was waiting for a VIP passenger. When a senator from the opposition Pakistan People’s Party, former Interior Minister Rehman Malik, finally showed up to board the flight, passengers mutinied and booed him away from the plane’s door. As if to keep things even, Ramesh Kumar Vankwani, a National Assembly member from Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ’s governing party, showed up even later, reached his seat, and was then chased off the plane by the passengers. A video of the episode went viral on social media the next day, and many Pakistanis applauded the vigilante justice against VIPs who use their status to lord it over ordinary citizens. At the same time, the episode pointed to the malaise that has overtaken PIA, once a national asset whose crack pilots and sound management helped establish dozens of international routes. The state-owned airline is now all but lost in a morass of financial liability, political favoritism and technical disrepute. The pressing question: whether PIA has passed the point of no return and can no longer be saved. Flight PK-370 wasn’t an anomaly; horror stories abound of flights delayed for up to 30 hours before being canceled, and of furious passengers being sent home with no explanation. Computer systems cancel bookings without informing passengers, and with no opportunity for reimbursement. Planes fly dirty, flight attendants are lackadaisical and reservation agents are unreasonable. Yet PIA still commands 70 percent of the domestic market in Pakistan, overshadowing three smaller and less well-equipped commercial airlines.
n By Col. (retd) Ehsan
T
Karachi, Pakistan
he last time I shook his hand, he was leaving 1 Corps Headquarters Mangla for Rawalpindi. I was posted at the Corps Headquarters as a Grade 11 staff officer. On that day, General Pervez Musharraf had no idea why he was being summoned to Rawalpindi by the prime minister. Neither did the rest of the country, which would first see him become the chief of army staff, and later, as another military ruler who would rule this country for the next nine years. Sixteen years later, as I stood once again shaking his hand and wishing him adieu, the only thought that crossed my mind was: does the General and the country, once again, have any idea about when and where he is likely to be summoned?
I was part of the 12 Alumni of the National Defense University, Islamabad, that the General had agreed to meet at his residence on November 9. Warm and welcoming, he conducted an hour-long interactive session with us that remained full of intellect and ideas. Truth be told, he seemed at peace with himself. The manner in which he answered our questions was very much illustrative of his style of leadership: principled without being offensive, grand and philosophical without being ideological, objective and forceful without being doctrinaire. When asked to point out the three important things that he thought he should not have done during his rule, he listed the passing of the NRO, the selection of General Kayani as army chief and the poor handling of the chief justice affair. However, he was sure of the appropriateness of the grounds on which he called for the former chief justice’s resignation, but regretted all the follow-up actions that translated into the lawyers’ movement.
It wasn’t always this way. PIA began flying internationally in 1955 as the country’s government-run carrier and received early technical assistance from Pan American World Airways. It quickly became a regional leader — the first Asia-based airline to operate jets, in 1960 — and it helped Singapore Airlines, Emirates and Royal Jordanian Airlines, among others, to establish their own fleets. In the 1960s, Pierre Cardin designed its flight attendants’ uniforms, while travel posters showcased exciting destinations and the romance of international travel. PIA showed profits back then, and being nationally subsidized, it could promise job security for all employees. But the future was slowly being compromised. Ticket prices were artificially low, the airline paid high taxes on jet fuel, and its flights were not allowed to sell alcohol. Then, in the 1990s, the first Gulf War drove fuel prices and insurance rates sky-high. Subsequent tensions with India and the war against the Taliban led to repeated closures of Pakistani airspace and airports. But not all of the airline’s problems can be laid at war’s doorstep. One of the largest is over-employment: With only 36 planes and about 17,000 employees (who fly free with their families), the airline has a ratio of employees to aircraft that is reportedly among the
highest in the world. This is not a managerial strategy: It is a result of the government’s using PIA as an employment reservoir. Plum jobs go to well-connected people, reflecting a larger governmental ethos of nepotism, favoritism and corruption. Meanwhile, poor maintenance has rendered some PIA planes inoperable, limiting the number of routes PIA can fly. In September, according to the newspaper Dawn, 10 of the airline’s 36 aircraft were grounded for lack
The state-owned airline is now all but lost in a morass of financial liability, political favoritism and technical disrepute. The pressing question: whether PIA has passed the point of no return and can no longer be saved of spare parts. Departures have been scaled back or eliminated on unprofitable routes. These factors allowed officials to report that PIA ‘s annual loss — about $310 million last year — is estimated to be about $175 million this year. But those numbers indicate that the airline remains a huge drain on the national exchequer. In response, the government is trying to
General Pervez Musharraf
About Imran Khan and the future of his tsunami, he was not very hopeful. Identifying arrogance and ignorance as the two vital deficiencies in any political leader, he implied that Imran Khan possessed both. He was not par-
stan’s current political woes was simple: setting up an empowered interim government. His description of empowerment was a government that was “military backed”, as well as “judiciary backed”. He opined that unless such a govern-
When asked to point out the three important things that he thought he should not have done during his rule, he listed the passing of the NRO, the selection of General Kayani as army chief and the poor handling of the chief justice affair ticularly impressed with the current solo political flight that Imran Khan and his party are undertaking. Without political reforms, General Musharraf considered “his style of politics” and the deliverables that he was promising, the least likely to see the “political daylight”. The General’s idea of addressing Paki-
ment was formed and undertook the all-necessary political reforms, the next elections will again be as inconsequential in bringing any change as has been the case with all previous elections. He advocated that the most suitable role that the military could perform during the current political crisis was that of “the force
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COMMENTARY privatize the carrier. In 2013, Prime Minister Sharif announced plans to sell a 26 percent stake in the airline, but the plan only angered many of the well-connected who now get special privileges. More recently, Reuters reported a plan to split PIA in two, divesting the airline of an investments division that owns the Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan and the Hotel Scribe in Paris while offering to sell the airline itself to another global airline. Emirates (which PIA helped to create), Etihad and Qatar are reportedly among the contenders. Mohammad Zubair, a financial adviser to the government, hopes that a sell-off of the subsidiary’s assets will raise $4 billion, which might allow the government to retain and reinvigorate the airline. Since this tactic too may fail, Mr Sharif recently appointed a prominent businessman, Nasser Jaffer, as the PIA chairman, and Capt. Shujaat Azeem, a pilot and businessman, to be the prime minister’s special assistant on aviation. Captain Azeem told The Daily Telegraph that they intend to streamline operations, improve service and end corruption. But even if that can be achieved — and substantial doubt remains about that — it’s unlikely to be the end of the story. On Flight PK-370, passengers had finally tired of the politicians who treat the national carrier like their personal transportation service. But Arjumand Azhar Hussain, who captured the onboard protest on video, was fired from his job at an international courier company less than a month later — an act widely believed to be a bit of revenge from somewhere in the VIP culture, while the company defended it as “based on merit.” Unless Mr Jaffer and Captain Azeem turn out to be powerful enough to fix the part of PIA ‘s culture that panders to the political elite, the airline will continue to sabotage its own recovery, and perhaps will have to change its name to one of the notorious acronyms that its frustrated passengers have been inventing for many years now: “Pakistan’s Irritating Airline.” Or “Prayers in the Air.” Or, most ominously, “Perhaps I Arrive.” Bina Shah is the author of several books of fiction, including, most recently, “A Season for Martyrs.” - The New York Times in being”. Its best utility was to remain as the “power in waiting”, which has the ability to address political errors, but should not actually do so. Given the current circumstances, the military, he suggested, should not usurp power as the chances of the nation reaping the rewards of such a decision are too less compared with the strong chances of failure. At a personal level, he felt betrayed by General Kayani. He agreed that the absence of the “military commanders’ resolve” was an important factor in General Kayani’s inability to initiate the much-delayed military operation in North Waziristan. In his opinion, if such an operation had taken place earlier, the military would have dismantled and destroyed the “nerve center of the terrorists” long ago, thus preventing the great losses that both the military and the nation suffered. Undoubtedly, “sub say pehlay Pakistan” (putting the country first), was the nucleus around which he built his responses and presented his point of view. Hence, none of us, for even a moment doubted the General’s love for the country. Yet, the fact remains that the position he rose to in the military may earn him the title of being an able and competent general, but the many political errors that he committed during his military rule suggest that he lacked the craft needed to be a successful politician. His worst folly, though, was to try being a soldier and politician simultaneously. His critics believe that he was not good at being either, but many admirers judge the man for who he is: the former president of Pakistan who, when he had the chance, didn’t wield his authority effectively enough to create a Pakistan that he really wanted. This, today, should be his biggest regret. (The writer is a retired lieutenant colonel of the Pakistan Army who is currently pursuing PhD in civil-military relations at the University of Karachi. The Express Tribune)
COMMENTARY
DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P23
Enabling Progress: Meet the Pakistani PhD in Particle Physics
n By Fouzia Nasir Ahmad
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few months ago, 35-year-old Aqil Sajjad completed his PhD in particle physics at Harvard. When he wasn’t busy working on that very difficult-sounding thesis, he played baseball, enjoyed books and watched Pakistani plays.
However, there is a twist to the above tale. Unlike the many other Pakistanis who have successfully completed PhDs, Aqil is blind and has been since he was 16. Since so much information is in a written form, how does he go about the otherwise simple process of reading newspapers and books? “The University provides all the books in an accessible format so I use my PC for everything. Since 1999, I use software to convert written messages to audio. A growing number of people are doing that in Pakistan too; however, the overall number is still small as many blind people do not have the resources to buy a computer,” he said. “Actually I am a little lazy at updating software and so I actually have an older version (of the software) while many people in Pakistan are using the latest version,” he confessed laughing. “A lot of academic papers are available on the net but I can’t just pick up a book in the library and use it for reference as it has to be converted, which can result in a time lag. This can sometimes be very annoying.” Aqil has been in the US for about 13 years and lives independently in his apartment on campus. He works on and off as a teaching assistant which takes care of his bills. Perhaps sensing my awe and curiosity, he said, “People in Pakistan don’t understand independence so much. There are times when you need help and times when it can get annoying if someone just holds your hand and starts leading you off somewhere.” Don’t people offer help in the US? “Well, people there are more used to seeing people with disabilities moving around in a somewhat independent manner. Even if someone wants to help, they offer help in a way so as not to encroach upon your independence.” He is quite familiar with the walks around the campus and from his apartment to the physics department, but going to a new place can be a little complicated. “I may have to ask for help as I can’t look at a map and go.” Aqil feels that the very idea that blind people can function and contribute to the society is gradually spreading in Pakistan as a slow change is in process, but that society here still needs to go a very long way.
Aqil plays a modified version of baseball created for blind players using a noisemaking ball, delivered by a sighted pitcher to a blindfolded batter. The sighted, the partly sighted and the sightless play on an even level
“For instance, working women in the ’70s or the ’80s had to be extra tough to survive in the work environment of that time. But today, young women are comparatively more comfortable in their work environs because there is now more acceptance. In the same way, if more and more people with disabilities come into the mainstream, the sooner a change will happen in the way people respond to and interact with them. That is the only way people will get over their misconcep-
mented a serious policy for people with disabilities, though there is plenty of lip service. Whereas the media only remembers to remind policy-makers on special days like the UN’s international day for people with disabilities. “Unless that happens, the lack of facilities makes it difficult for disabled people to get educated, while those who do come out of educational institutions will continue to find it difficult to enter the work market. “The doctor is the first person who breaks
A few months ago, 35-year-old Aqil Sajjad completed his PhD in particle physics at Harvard. When he wasn’t busy working on that very difficultsounding thesis, he played baseball, enjoyed books and watched Pakistani plays. However, there is a twist to the above tale. Unlike the many other Pakistanis who have successfully completed PhDs, Aqil is blind and has been since he was 16 tions and start seeing the disabled as individuals.” He further explained what he thinks is ‘a social front’ and a ‘systemic part’. “What does our education system do for people with disabilities? A lack of resources is the standard reply which is true but that is not necessarily the only problem. A lot can be done within the available resources. Lack of will or attitude is also an impediment. So things are haphazard plus there are no comprehensive policies in place.” No government in Pakistan has yet imple-
the news to you that you cannot ever be able to see again, so maybe we need to educate doctors to be able to send the person to someplace where there is counseling available. That could be the starting point,” he said. “Educational institutions should have officials whose job descriptions include ensuring that the accessibility related needs of students and teachers with disabilities are addressed. “Slowly and gradually a system will develop. What really happens is that they make a separate ministry for disabled people, which works in isolation from other ministries and
departments. There is a need for the mainstream ministries and organizations to include a unit for disabled people. That will create a system. Every university in the US has a disability office that addresses their special needs. For example, Boston public transport has a small disability-related department that ensures that their trains and buses are accessible. Banks in Pakistan for instance don’t give ATM facilities to blind people; this will only happen when the State Bank employs certain people whose job description includes creating policies and programs to include and facilitate people with disabilities.” Aqil lost his eyesight at the age of 16 when he was studying in FSc pre-engineering. “Loss of vision is traumatic and it may take a while to accept reality, but acceptance is important because otherwise it undermines one’s ability to move on,” he explains. “My mother took the first step by immediately thinking about continuing my education in very practical terms.” Aqil had to change subjects as in our education system visually impaired people are not allowed to study physics, etc. “The last thing I wanted was a break in my education, so I started working with the new subjects. But what I really wanted to do was to study science.” He bagged a position in the board in FA and after that started BBA. “At home, I would study math with my mother who had a Master’s degree in it which certainly came in handy.” In the absence of an adequate support system, he was totally dependent on his mother for studying. “She would read books and notes to me and write up my homework assignments which I would dictate to her.” Later at Hamdard University, Aqil took a physics and a math course from their computer science program. “I kept looking for opportunities to study physics abroad and after doing my BBA, went to the US for a Bachelor’s in physics.” “One day, going through some mailing lists, I stumbled on some information about John Gardner, a professor at Oregon State University who was blind.” He applied to a number of universities but ended up at Oregon State University. “Working with Gardner was a pretty good experience and I still use the tools that he has developed to study math. With a fascination for research-related subjects like particle physics, his leisure reading is economics and history; yet he denies them being ‘dry’. PHYSICS, P24
Eavesdropping on Pakistani Official Led to Inquiry into Former US Diplomat n By Matt Apuzzo, Michael S. Schmidt and Mark Mazzetti
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Washington, DC
merican investigators intercepted a conversation this year in which a Pakistani official suggested that his government was receiving American secrets from a prominent former State Department diplomat, officials said, setting off an espionage investigation that has stunned diplomatic circles here.
That conversation led to months of secret surveillance on the former diplomat, Robin L. Raphel, and an FBI raid last month at her home, where agents discovered classified information. The investigation is an unexpected turn in a distinguished career that has spanned four decades. Ms Raphel (pronounced RAY-full) rose to become one of the highest-ranking female diplomats and a fixture in foreign policy circles, serving as ambassador to Tunisia and as assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs in the Clinton administration. Ms Raphel, 67, considered one of the leading American experts on Pakistan, was stripped of her security clearances last month and no longer has access to the State Department building. The investigation is a rare example of an FBI espionage case breaking into public view. Counterintelligence — the art of spotting and thwarting spies — is the FBI ’s second-highest priority, after fighting terrorism, but the operations are conducted almost entirely in secret. On any given day, Washington’s streets crawl with FBI surveillance teams following diplomats and spies, adding to files that are unlikely ever to become public. The senior American officials briefed on the case spoke on the condition of anonymity because they did not want to be iden-
tified discussing a continuing investigation. Spokesmen for the FBI and Department of Justice declined to comment. Ms Raphel has not been charged with a crime. The scope of the investigation is not known, and it is unclear exactly what the Pakistani official said in the intercepted conversation that led to suspicion about Ms Raphel. It is also not clear whether the conversation was by telephone, email or some other form of communication. Still, the new details shed some light on the evidence that Justice Department prosecutors are weighing as they decide whether to bring charges. And they help explain why the FBI viewed the matter seriously enough to search her home and State Department office, steps that would bring the investigation into the open. Ms Raphel is among a generation of diplomats who rose
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through the ranks of the State Department at a time when Pakistan was among America’s closest allies and a reliable bulwark against the Soviet Union. After retiring from the government in 2005, she lobbied on behalf of the Pakistani government before accepting a contract to work as a State Department adviser. While the FBI secretly watched Ms Raphel in recent months, agents suspected that she was improperly taking classified information home from the State Department, the officials said. Armed with a warrant, the agents searched her home in a prosperous neighborhood near the Maryland border with Washington, and found classified information, the officials said. Andrew Rice, a spokesman for Ms Raphel, said: “Nothing has changed for Ambassador Raphel. She has not been told she is the target of an investigation, and she has not been questioned.” In a sign of the seriousness of the case, Ms Raphel has hired Amy Jeffress, a lawyer who until recently was one of the Justice Department’s top national security prosecutors. Ms Jeffress served as a counselor to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on security matters, as the Justice Department’s attaché to London, and as chief of national security at the United States Attorney’s Office in Washington. She joined the law firm Arnold & Porter this year. Ms Jeffress declined to comment. Taking home classified information is a crime, but charges are rare. The Justice Department declined to prosecute Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales in 2008 for keeping information about the National Security Agency’s wiretapping program at his house. John M. Deutch, the CIA director from May 1995 to December 1996, lost his security clearances but was not charged for keeping government secrets on his home computer. DIPLOMAT, P24
COMMENTARY
P24 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014 GRAVES FROM P4
of them are either weak in chain of narration or do not reach to the level of sahih. A hasan hadith is as described by al-Dhahabi, “A Hasan hadith is one which excels the Da`if (weak) but nevertheless does not reach the standard of a Sahih hadith. While quoting these ahadith what is often ignored is the fact that they referred to a particular historical reality. Islam was introduced to a society where everyone was a pagan or non-Muslim. They were part of polytheism and followed a culture that was built around idolatry and class distinctions. They were used to cultural and tribal customs that often conflicted with many basic Islamic principles. For instance, it was a common practice on the part of the elites to hire women to wail and mourn for their dead. It was common that women would beat their chests, slap their faces, unfurl their hair and would lie down over the grave to make their mourning visible. It was also common that women would consider it part of their social obligation to wail and cry over the graves of those known to them or their families. Thus, we read in one of the hadith that Umm Attiya asked specific permission from the Prophet to reciprocate the wailing and crying over the death, (whenever it takes place) of anyone in the family of one of her friends because she had wailed and cried when one of her family had died. The Prophet granted her the permission. This is what the hadith says: It was narrated that Umm ‘Atiyyah said: “When the verse: ...pledge, that they will not associate anything in worship with Allah”, “...and that they will not disobey you in Ma’râf was revealed, that included (refraining from) wailing. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, except for the family of so-and-so, they used to help me (in wailing) during the Jâhiliiah, (preIslamic period) so I have to help them now. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Except for the family of soand-so.” (A/-Muwatta) Thus it is obvious that the Prophet was concerned with the idea of reforming a society that had no respect for the genuine feelings at the time of death. He wanted to abolish the practice of hiring people to shed artificial tears over the death of the elites. He wanted to eliminate the practice of wailing and crying for the purpose of show off. He was not opposed to the idea of mourning the dead. He himself cried over the death of his daughters and son. He said at the death of his son, And Ibn ‘Umar reported, “The Prophet said, ‘The eyes shed tears and the heart grieves.” At his death men and women cried and none of his companions and wives prevented them from doing so. In fact the Prophet himself cried at the grave of his mother where he had gone with over 1,000 of his companions including his wives and other women. They witnessed the Prophet visiting the graves with his wives and other women and crying there. Inspired by the Prophet, Syeda Ayesha visited the grave of her brother and when someone told her that the Prophet had forbidden that, her response was that the prohibition was later withdrawn and women were allowed to visit the graves. Abdullãh bin Al Mulaikah said: “Abdur-Rahmãn bin Abu Bakr died in Al-Hubshi”111 He said: “He was carried to Makkah to be buried
there. So when ‘Aishah arrived she went to the grave of ‘Abdur- Rahman bin Abi Bakr and she said: “We were like two drinking companions of Jadhimah for such a long time that they would say: ‘They will never part.’ So when we were separated it was as if I and Mãlik due to the length of unity never spent a night together.” Then she said: “By Allah! Had I been present, you would not have been buried except where you died, and if I had attended (the burial) I would not be visiting you.” In other words the mother of the believers was acknowledging that women were allowed to visit the graves. There is a hadith quoted byAbu Hurairah that says “Indeed the Messenger of Allah cursed the women who visit the graves.” is Hasan and should be seen in the context of tribal customs of the society. In fact, some scholars have suggested that this is not a general rule as the Prophet might be referring to those who were crossing the limits set by the faith. Some of the people of knowledge thought that this was before the Prophet permitted visiting the graves. Then when he permitted it, both men and women were included in the permission. The purpose of visiting the graves is to understand the finite nature of this life and this world and to prepare oneself to face Allah. If men or women visit the graves for this purpose it is allowed, but going to graves for purposes that promote polytheistic ideas is not allowed. Syeda Ayesha and the wives of the Prophet spent their lives staying closer to the grave of the Prophet. The Prophet is buried in the quarter of Syeda Aisha and there is no record to suggest that she moved out of her quarter. We read in several ahadith that Syeda Ayesha was present during the burial of the Prophet. She and other wives sprinkled the dust on the grave. They recited the Qur’an in the vicinity of the grave. They offered prayers in the vicinity of the grave. In fact the mother of the believer is reported to have said that had we known what we know now, the wives of the Prophet would have given him funeral bath. “‘Aishah used to say: ‘If I had known beforehand what I know now, no one but his wives would have washed him.”(Abu Dawood) This hadith also clarifies the misconception that a wife cannot see the face of her husband after his death. One of the wives of Syed Hasan Ibn Ali pitched a tent at his grave site as reported in the Bukhari “When Al-Hasan bin A]-Hasan bin ‘Au expired, his wife pitched a tent on his grave and it remained there for one year and then was demolished..” Crying for the dead was not prohibited. What was prohibited was excessive mourning crossing all limits. In one of the hadith recorded in Sahih Bukhari, it is reported “Narrated Jabir bin ‘Abdullãh: When my father was martyred, I lifted the sheet from his face and wept and the people forbade me to do so but the Prophet did not forbid me. Then my aunt Fatima began weeping and the Prophet said, “It is all the same whether you weep or not. The angels were shading him continuously with their wings till you shifted him (from the field).” The incident took place in a graveyard where women were present and the Prophet was
there as well. The Prophet did not prevent women from visiting the graves as is evident from this hadith. “Narrated by Anas bin Malik reported that the Prophet passed by a woman who was sitting and weeping beside a grave. He did not ask her to leave the grave site. He did not rebuke her. He did not curse her. Rather he advised her and told her, ‘Fear Allah and be patient.’ “ (Sahih Bukhari) This is further collaborated by Umm ‘Atiya when she said that the Prophet discouraged us accompanying the funeral procession but not strictly. Umm Atiya is talking about a funeral procession and not about visiting the grave sites or graves. Some scholars quote a hadith that says that the punishment in the graves increases for those whose relatives weep and wail after his or her death. This statement was challenged by the companions of the Prophet. When this hadith was presented to Syeda Ayesha, she said as reported in Bukhari by Ibn ‘Abbãs who said, “When ‘Umar died I told that to ‘Ayesha and she said, ‘May Allah be Merciful to ‘Umar. By Allah, Allah’s Messenger did not say that a believer is punished by the weeping (crying aloud) of his relatives. But he said, ‘Allah increases the punishment of a disbeliever because of the weeping (crying aloud) of his relatives.” ‘Ayesha further added, “The Qur’an is sufficient for you (to clear up this point) as Allah has stated: ‘... No bearer of burdens shall bear the burden of another...’” (6:164) Allah and the Prophet did not prevent women initially because they were weak or impatient or source of temptation. The purpose was to reform the society of practices that had turned death into a display of pomp and status. How can the decision be based on gender when the Prophet in several ahadith emphasized the importance of visiting graves and following funeral processions? Those who say that the Prophet meant to imply that only men would receive the rewards for visiting graves are adding their interpretations influenced by a patriarchal system where everything revolved around the interests of men. Sulaiman bin Buraidah narrated from his father that the Messenger of Allah said: “I had prohibited you from visiting the graves. But Prophet Muhammad was permitted to visit the grave of his mother: so visit them, for they will remind you of the Hereafter.” (Tirmidhi) What is prohibited is very clear. Neither men nor women should use the occasion to exhibit their physical features for the purpose of attracting others. In our times people do not do that. People should be properly dressed. In our time in funerals, men and women are properly dressed. Their behavior should be in accordance with the ethics of Islam. The funerals in general show commitment by people to Islamic ethics. They should lower their gaze. They should remember their own death and use the occasion to remind themselves that they would return to the same place on the shoulders of someone else one day. There is no restriction on men and women visiting the graves provided they abide by the code of Islamic dress and conduct, as can be deduced from the aforesaid Ahadith that give blanket permission to Muslims to visit the graves. However, if men or women violate the Islamic morals, make loud lamen-
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tations, prostrate themselves before the graves, they both deprive them of the mercy of Allah. The practice of denying visitation rights to women are practices in South Asia and in many Arab countries. Depending on which school of thought one belongs to, prohibition is imposed in varying degrees. In the United States there is now a systematic campaign on the part of many imams to propagate that women cannot participate in the funeral even if it is the funeral of their sons, daughters, fathers or brothers or husband. It is un-Islamic. As stated above there is no sahih hadith that supports this claim. Those ahadith that make this claim are considered either hasan or daif by hadith scholars and are regarded invalid as they referred to an earlier situation. Even if there are sahih, they refer to a tribal culture and a society that had little respect for women. People had just come out of paganism. Many of those situations have changed. Rather than preventing women from visiting graves, the learned people should educate men and women about the rules of visiting graves. God and His Prophet cannot be used to reduce Muslim women to a second class status. This is institutionalized inequality and before we talk about discrimination against Muslims by non-Muslims, we must talk about discrimination of Muslim clergy or so-called scholars against Muslim women. This is sheer injustice and making a mockery of faith. Syeda Ayesha and all the wives of the Prophet participated in the funeral prayers of the Prophet. They stayed around the grave. They sprinkled the dust. In fact Syeda Ayesha stayed around the grave twenty-four hours for several years. All the wives of the Prophet were in close proximity of their husband’s grave. They would visit his grave daily till they left the world. Syed Hasan bin Ali’s wife pitched her tent close the grave of her husband for almost one year and no one could make her remove it even though the companions of the Prophet were alive. Syeda Fatima, bint Muhammad, (PBUH) visited the grave of her father regularly. The theology of deprivation that is being promoted in the name of Islam is a theology that is rooted in the perversion of deen by the socalled scholars. It is rooted in a sexist attitude that has been imposed upon people in the name of Islam. We cannot dismiss it as a trivial issue. It is a crime and sin against Allah and the Prophet. Men and women have accepted it because they are not told the truth. It is not an issue of opinion that they have a different perspective and someone else has a different perspective. It is a matter of institutionalized inequality in the name of religion. This is the dividing line and the line has already been drawn. We have to speak up for the rights of women fearlessly. We have to stand up for Islamic rights. We have to refuse to acknowledge the legitimacy of this theology. Be assured, women are as honored Muslim as the so-called scholars are. If we would not speak, they would continue to impose their tribal and cultural dictates upon us and the community. We all have a stake in religion. Each one of us would be responsible individually before Allah. We have to make our choice and let it be known. It is the jihad for equality and decency.
They say women cannot come to the graveyards because they are a source of temptation. They are perverts and if they cannot think of women beyond an object of sex and as a decent human creation of Allah, then they should stop visiting the graves, not women. PHYSICS FROM P23
“Dry is in the eye of the beholder!” he chuckled. “I like Pakistani plays on TV, I like sports and, like every sane Pakistani, I like cricket. Since there is not much cricket happening here, I play the next best thing — baseball!” Aqil plays a modified version of baseball created for blind players using a noisemaking ball, delivered by a sighted pitcher to a blindfolded batter. The sighted, the partly sighted and the sightless play on an even level. “The ball has a beeping device fixed to it. I found this group a few years ago and it is a lot of fun. In summer, we practice twice a week and go touring other states.” The PhD behind him, he plans to stick around in the US for a year. Are you going to set up a nuclear plant? “God forbid, no. That is a different branch of physics. There are many options and I’ll figure out soon what I am doing next.” DIPLOMAT FROM P23
Samuel R. Berger, a former national security adviser, pleaded guilty in 2005 to a misdemeanor and paid a $50,000 fine for removing classified documents from the National Archives. While the United States and Pakistan remain allies in the war on terrorism, tensions between the two countries have been frequently strained. American officials suspect Pakistan of supporting the Taliban and believe Pakistan has dispatched several double agents to collect intelligence from the United States government. Pakistani officials bristle at the CIA’s use of drones and operatives inside the country. This animosity has spawned a new generation of American Foreign Service officers who view Pakistan with suspicion, making Ms Raphel and her generally sympathetic view of Pakistan out of step within the State Department. Nevertheless, Ms Raphel’s reputation as a seasoned diplomat with broad connections in Pakistan led Richard C. Holbrooke, who was then special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, to recruit her out of retirement to work at the American Embassy in Islamabad, helping to disburse aid money. Her longstanding relations with Pakistan’s government have also made her an object of scorn in India, the bitter rival of Pakistan, and a country that has grown closer to the United States during both the Bush and Obama administrations. The Indian news media has aggressively covered the espionage case in recent weeks, with The Times of India describing Ms Raphel as a “brazenly pro-Pakistan partisan in Washington” with a “pathological dislike for India which she did little to conceal.” In 1988, M. Raphel’s former husband, Arnold L. Raphel, then the American ambassador to Pakistan, was killed in a mysterious plane crash with the president of Pakistan, Gen Mohammad Zia ul-Haq. The cause of the crash was never determined, spawning numerous theories, including that it was an assassination and that nerve gas in a canister hidden in a crate of mangoes had been dispersed in the plane’s air-conditioning system. - The New York Times|
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DECEMBER5,5, 2014 2014 –-PAKISTAN LINKLINK – P25 DECEMBER PAKISTAN
Umar Gul, Younis Khan Return to Pakistan’s Limited Over Squad
SHARJAH: Paceman Umar Gul and batsman Younis Khan returned to Pakistan`s squads for next month`s Twenty20 and one-day series against New Zealand in United Arab Emirates, officials said recently. The 30-year-old Gul had his career derailed by a knee operation last year and in his return early this year he failed to impress. Pakistan`s chief selector Moin Khan said Gul and Riaz`s return will bolster the squad for the two
Twenty20 matches in Dubai on December 4 and 5. The Twenty20 will be followed by five one-day internationals. "Gul and Riaz are making comebacks from injury to make the pace attack more potent and I hope the squad will do well considering next year`s World Cup," Khan said in a Pakistan Cricket Board release. Also returning to the one-day team is 37-year-old Younis who amassed 468 runs in the 2-0 win over
Australia last month. That came on the back of his controversial axing from the threematch one-day series against Australia in which Pakistan were white-washed last month. Another paceman Wahab Riaz is also in both the squads after suffering a knee injury in the one-day series against Australia while opener Ahmed Shehzad returns after suffering a head injury in the first Test against New Zealand. New Zealand beat Pakistan by an innings and 80 runs to level the three-match Test series in Sharjah recently. Pakistan squads (Twenty20): Shahid Afridi (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, Anwar Ali, Mohammad Hafeez, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Owais Zia, Raza Hasan, Saad Nasim, Sarfraz Ahmed, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz One-day: Misbah-ul Haq (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Bilawal Bhatti, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir Jamshed, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Sohail Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar. J
New Zealand Thrash Pakistan in 3rd Test, Level Series 1-1 SHARJAH: Emotional New Zealand completed an innings and 80 run win over Pakistan in the third and final Test in Sharjah recently, to level the threematch series 1-1. Seamer Trent Boult took 4-38 and Mark Craig 3-109 which overshadowed Asad Shafiq's career best 137 as Pakistan were dismissed for 259 in their second innings in the fading light at Sharjah stadium. The win was more praiseworthy in a week when New Zealand were left grieved by Australian batsman Phillip Hughes' tragic death recently, the day when both teams abandoned second day's play. Boult ended Shafiq's fighting 183minute knock of 18 fours and six sixes -- his fifth Test century -- with a short delivery. Craig wrapped up the innings by dismissing Rahat Ali for six to end with match figures of 10-203. He took 7-94 in the first innings. Boult struck thrice in the space of
18 balls to leave Pakistan struggling at 24-3 before Craig and Sodhi (2-82) chipped in. Pakistan won the first Test in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs while the second ended in a draw in Dubai. Pakistan's batting failure was miserable on a pitch where New Zealand plundered 690. Shafiq and Sarfraz Ahmed (37) tried to take the attack to the New Zealand bowlers with a 73-run stand for the sixth wicket before Sodhi removed Ahmed and Yasir Shah (ten) in the same over before tea. Shafiq hit Craig for a six and four to reach his hundred off 123 balls to delay the defeat after Pakistan lost Mohammad Hafeez (24) and Misbahul Haq (12) in the post lunch session. Hafeez gave a return catch to Craig while Misbah was adjudged caught behind off the glove on the same bowler and even a referral couldn't save the Pakistan skipper. J
ICC Announces Schedule of Warm-Up Matches for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
LONDON: The International Cricket Council (ICC) recently announced the complete schedule of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, including match start time and warm-up matches. A total of 14 non-ODI warm-up matches will be played across Adelaide, Christchurch, Melbourne and Sydney from 8 to 13 February, with host and four-time former world champion Australia taking on reigning world champion India at Adelaide Oval on the first day. Four matches will be played on the second day, with Christchurch hosting South Africa and Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval, and co-host New Zealand and Zimbabwe going head to head at Bert Sutcliffe Oval. In Sydney, England will face West Indies at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and Blacktown will host the Asian clash between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Three qualifiers will be in action on Tuesday, 10 February, day three of the warm-up matches. European rivals Ireland and Scotland will lock horns at Blacktown in Sydney while neighbours India and Afghanistan will prepare for the tournament proper at the Adelaide Oval. Eight sides will feature on Wednesday, 11 February. New Zealand will meet South Africa at Hagley Oval, and Sri Lanka will take on Zimbabwe at Bert Sutcliffe Oval (both matches in Christchurch), 1992 World Cup finalists England and Pakistan will test each other at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Australia will play the UAE at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. On Thursday, 12 February, the West Indies will play Scotland at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Ireland
will play Bangladesh in Blacktown, while Friday, 13 February, sees the UAE play Afghanistan at Melbourne's Junction Oval in the final warm-up game. The public will be welcome to attend warm up matches which will be ticketed but free of charge. Details of how to obtain tickets will be announced in due course. It should be noted that warm-up matches are not official ODIs and operate under slight-
ly different rules with up to 15 players able to be used throughout the game with no more than 11 players may field at any one time. The spectator experience will not be the same standard as at normal ODI matches. For media, entry will be through the normal accreditation process and only those that complete the second phase of the accreditation process, which starts on 1 December, will be given access to the venues. Additionally, the ICC has also confirmed the match start time of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. The 14 February tournament opener between New Zealand and Sri
Lanka will start at 1100 (NZT), while Australia will square-off against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on the same day with the first ball to be bowled at 1430 (AEDT). The 29 March final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground will start at 1430 (AEDT). Complete schedule with match start time is attached. The schedule of warm-up matches is: Sunday, 8 February -India v Australia (1400), Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Monday, 9 February - South Africa v Sri Lanka (1100), Hagley Oval, Christchurch; New Zealand v Zimbabwe (1100), Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christchurch; England v West Indies (1430), Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney; Pakistan v Bangladesh (1430), Blacktown ISP, Sydney Tuesday, 10 February - Ireland v Scotland (1430), Blacktown ISP, Sydney; India v Afghanistan (1400), Adelaide Oval, Adelaide Wednesday, 11 February - New Zealand v South Africa (1100), Hagley Oval, Christchurch; Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe (1100), Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Christchurch; Australia v UAE (1430), Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne; England v Pakistan (1430), Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney Thursday, 12 February - West Indies v Scotland (1000), Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney; Ireland v Bangladesh (1000), Blacktown ISP, Sydney Friday, 13 February - Afghanistan v UAE (1000) Junction Oval, Melbourne. J
Zimbabwe Whitewashed 5-0 MIRPUR: Taijul Islam's hat-trick, the first by an ODI debutant, spun Zimbabwe out for 128 and spurred Bangladesh to their second 5-0 series win. The home side won with 25.3 overs and five wickets to spare, with Mahmudullah and Sabbir Rahman unbeaten on 51 and 13 respectively. Bangladesh's spin attack was the story of the match. Taijul, replacing Rubel Hossain, took his first ODI wicket at the start of the 27th over, trapping Solomon Mire lbw. Two balls into the start of the 29th, he had four wickets and had completed his hat-trick, with the wickets of Tinashe Panyangara, John Nyumbu and Tendai Chatara. Taijul became the fourth Bangladesh bowler to take a hattrick, after Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Razzak and Rubel. Panyangara left a big gap between pad and bat, and Taijul duly slid one through. Nyumbu went on the back foot and missed a quicker and flatter delivery, which
struck his pads right in front of the stumps. Chatara seemed as eager as the bowler to complete the hat-trick, swinging across the line and leaving his stumps unprotected. Chatara missed, and Taijul slammed his chest in celebration. When Shakib Al Hasan took the tenth wicket in the 29th over, Taijul was summoned to lead the team off the field. He had finished with figures of 7-2-11-4, and walked off with a sheepish smile on his face with his teammates slapping him on his back. After the 10-minute innings break, Bangladesh started their chase poorly. Tamim Iqbal guided one to third-man, Anamul Haque and Shakib edged catches to slip, and debutant Soumya Sarkar gave leg slip a dolly. The top order's breakdown was reminiscent of Bangladesh's second innings in the Dhaka Test, but it was nothing compared to Zimbabwe's implosion. J
PCB Asks ICC for Date to Test Ajmal LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board has asked the ICC for a date for the official testing of Saeed Ajmal's reworked action. Ajmal underwent his third unofficial test at Loughborough University on December 1 after which the PCB applied for a reassessment of his
reworked action in order to have him available for the World Cup. Ajmal had undergone two unofficial tests in November and his offspinner and faster balls were found legal, but his doosra was still over 15-degree limit. Ajmal was suspended from bowling in September after his action was
deemed to be illegal for all deliveries. Ajmal's elbow extension was going up to 42 degrees on average in the official tests conducted which led to his suspension. He then worked on his action for over six weeks before undergoing first unofficial test last month which showed "substantial improvement."J
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DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (centre) and members of the Bangladesh cricket team pose for a photography with the tournament trophies after their fifth and final One-day International against Zimbabwe at the Sher-e Bangla National Stadium. Bangladesh beat Zimbabwe 5-0.
COMMENTARY
P26 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014
Estate Planning Is Job Best Tackled n By Saghir Aslam Rawalpindi, Pakistan
(The following information is provided solely to educate the Muslim community about investing and financial planning. It is hoped that the Ummah will benefit from this effort through greater financial empowerment, enabling the community to live in security and dignity and fulfill their religious and moral obligations towards charitable activities) Some people believe patience and a good do-it-yourself book will get them through any project. This may be true if you want to add a deck to your house or rebuild a car motor. But estate planning, like a root canal, is a procedure that is best left to the pros. I believe laymen should attempt only the simplest estate-planning procedures, such as drawing up a simple, uncomplicated will. If you have a spouse and children and you want to leave each of them shares according to Shariah, with no other contingencies, a doit-yourself book, if it’s accurate and well-researched, might help. The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) has booklets available which can be directly purchased from them or from Islamic bookstores for small donations. But if you have a large estate and attempt a more complicated will, you most likely will create a problem rather than solve one. Why? Books, software programs and do-it-yourself guides can teach you the basics, but they can’t cover the complex issues related to the lawful disposition of property. What’s worse, some of these materials are inaccurate, out-of-date or incomplete. The states have different signing and execution requirements for wills. For example, if your state now requires two witnesses to sign a will, but if you use an old self-help book that says just one is required, there will be problems. A will that lacks the proper signatures can only be corrected through costly court appearances. A poorly drawn will is also more likely to be contested by disgruntled heirs. The worst-case scenario: People who take the do-it-yourself route and make a mess of it can completely reverse their last wishes. Even those who write do-ityourself books and software programs admit that complex wills, trusts and estate issues should be handled by professionals. I believe even simple do-it-yourself estate planning efforts should be reviewed by a lawyer. There is no such thing as a simple trust, and I am not so sure there is such a thing as simple will. People start with simple wills, then they think of conditions they want to add, and the will gets complicated. I have suggested during my formal and informal sessions the importance of estate planning and most importantly having a will is a must. A task that must be done right now. I have worked with an attorney who has studied and understands the Islamic inheritance laws. Make sure you seek professional help. What’s a Trust? Knowing Terms can Simplify Process Wills and trusts are the nuts and
bolts of estate planning. With them, you create the framework for carrying out your wishes after you die. Without them, protecting and passing on your wealth to heirs and beneficiaries becomes much more difficult. Most people know what a will is. But many folks don’t have the foggiest idea what a trust is. To clear up the confusion, with the help of an attorney, I have put together a glossary of key estate-planning tools. Wills. Few of us would be without a will if we knew how much trouble that might cause our heirs. Without one, state law dictates who gets your assets. Loved ones could lose out to estranged family members. Still many of us don’t have a will. A will is a relatively simple document. It should name an executor to oversee carrying out your wishes. If you have children, it must name a guardian. And it must be specific on how you want your assets-cash, stocks, real estate, family antiquesdistributed to your heirs and beneficiaries. We are blessed that Allah (SWT) has spelled out the inheritance laws in the Holy Book of the Quran. We simply need to put it on paper according to the laws of the state. A will’s coverage is limited to property you own individually and that does not have a named beneficiary. That means joint property with rights of survivorship goes to the other owner no matter what your will says. Life insurance, retirement accounts and tax-deferred annuities go by law to the named beneficiaries. So none need be included in your will. You can write a will yourself by obtaining a kit from the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). Execute a single copy of your will and use photocopies for any extra copies. Otherwise, probating your will could be held up while the court searches for all the signed originals. In most states, legal fees for a simple will should not exceed $1,000. Wills can be completed by your family attorney who specializes in estate law. Trusts. Trusts are effective tools to sort out complex family arrangements or sizable assets. Trusts, like wills, are meant to address both personal and family needs. But unlike wills, they can continue to carry out your wishes after you are gone. Trusts are contracts between you and some designated trustee who will carry out your instructions. A trustee can be an individual, a corporation or a bank. Trusts created during your lifetime are called inter vivos trusts, in simple terms revocable family trusts. Those created at your death, under the terms of your will, are called testamentary trusts. You can set up trusts within your will instead of leaving the money directly to a beneficiary. The trustee carries out your wish, say, that your children’s inheritance be held until they reach 20, 30 or 40. A trustee
might also by designated to arrange for someone to manage money for a spouse or a handicapped child. Bypass Trusts. For married couples with assets of more than $650,000 in 1999, a bypass trust allows you and your spouse to shield more assets from Uncle Sam. Under current tax laws, you can pass on up to $1000000.00 tax-free to your heirs. But for amounts over that the federal government collects hefty estate taxes. You should check with your accountant and attorney the latest amount allowed by law. As I have written many times before it is always best to work with your financial advisers. Many couples with substantial assets fail to do this, lulled by IRA laws that allow you to pass everything on to your spouse. Trouble is, once both of you are gone, the tax man can collect a heavy toll on your estate for anything over $650,000. With a bypass trust the surviving spouse can live off the income from the assets and even tap the principal in some cases. When he or she is gone, your heirs get up to $1.3 million passed on tax-free to them. Durable Power of Attorney. If you are disabled and unable to communicate, your heirs may be blocked from using your assets to pay healthcare and nursing-care bills. The situation can be horrific as your children scramble to find the money to care for you. A durable power of attorney designates someone to act on your behalf when you are incapacitated. You can name anyone you trust. A lawyer can prepare a durable power of attorney document for $100 or more. You can also purchase forms at stationary stores, though again, be certain they reflect the regulations in your state. Heath-Care Proxy. With this you can authorize a trusted relative or friend to make medical decisions for you. Say you are gravely injured and unconscious. A proxy knowing of your wish not to be kept alive using artificial means can act on your behalf. Forms are available in stationary stores but it is better to seek professional help. In more than one instance, I had to help a family create a will with the assistance of an attorney. One instance was when a brother was informed, after the doctors told his wife, that he was dying. I was assigned the difficult task of getting the will signed by the dying husband. You think that was easy; I had tears in my eyes. Imagine what her husband felt like and what was going through his mind? Let’s plan now so that none of us have to go through that particular ordeal. (Saghir A. Aslam only explains strategies and formulas that he has been using. He is merely providing information, and NO ADVICE is given. Mr Aslam does not endorse or recommend any broker, brokerage firm, or any investment at all, nor does he suggest that anyone will earn a profit when or if they purchase stocks, bonds or any other investments. All stocks or investment vehicles mentioned are for illustrative purposes only. Mr Aslam is not an attorney, accountant, real estate broker, stockbroker, investment advisor, or certified financial planner. Mr Aslam does not have anything for sale.)
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Marriage Support Hidaya Foundation supports impoverished families who are trying to get their daughters married by providing basic items necessary for newlywed girls, including dresses, shoes, utensils, bedding, fans, sewing machines, and more, along with some financial assistance to offset marriage expenses. Depending on the region, it costs approximately $200 to $300 to support the marriage of one young woman.
Donate Zakat & Sadaqah for Marriage Support.
Hidaya Foundation 866.2.HIDAYA | www.hidaya.org Hidaya Foundation is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) charitable organization with Tax ID # 77-0502583
Exchange Rates for Currency Notes* Countries
USA S.Arabia UK Japan Euro UAE
Buying Rs. 101.80 27.12 160.16 0.86 126.93 27.72
Selling Rs. 102.00 27.17 160.48 0.8617 127.18 27.77
(*December 2, 2014)
US VISA AVAILABILITY DECEMBER, 2014 For Pakistan, Bangladesh and India Compiled by Hasan Chishti FAMILY SPONSORED PREFERENCES
Pakistan/Bangladesh
1st Unmarried sons & daughters of U.S. Citizens
June 22, 2007
2-A Spouses and unmarried children of permanent residents
March 22, 2013
March 22, 2013
2-B Unmarried sons & daughters (21 years of age or older) of permanent residents
Feb., 22, 2008
Feb., 22, 2008
Married sons & daughters of US citizens Dec., 15, 2003
Dec., 15, 2003
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3
4th Brothers & sisters of adult U.S. citizens
Feb., 22, 2002
India June 22, 2007
Feb., 22, 2002
EMPLOYMENT BASED CATEGORY 1st Priority workers
Current
Current
Current
Feb., 15, 2005
3rd Skilled workers Other workers
Nov., 1, 2012 Nov., 1, 2012
Dec., 1, 2003 Dec., 1, 2003
4th Certain special immigrants Certain religious workers
Current Current
Current Current
2
nd
Members of the professions holding advanced degree or persons of exceptional ability
5th Employment creation Targeted Employment Areas/ Regional Centers and Pilot Programs
Current
Current
UNLIMITED FAMILY-BASED Immediate Relatives of U.S. Citizens (IR): The spouse, widow(er) and unmarried children under 21 of a U.S citizen, and the parent of a U.S. citizen who is 21 or older. Returning Residents (SB): Immigrants who lived in the United States previously as lawful permanent residents and are returning to live in the U.S. after a temporary visit of more than one year abroad.
RELIGION
DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P27
Working Together: A Human Necessity and an Islamic Mandate n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi …Help one another in righteousness and piety; do not help one another towards sin and hostility. Be mindful of Allah, for Allah’s punishment is severe. (al-Ma’idah 5:2) Human beings depend on each other. There are no creatures in this world that need each other as much as human beings need each other. Unless someone is living in a jungle, residing in caves and surviving on some wild fruits and vegetables, no one can live in a village or a city without the help of others. The Arab poet said long time ago: People, whether villagers or city dwellers, they are servants of each other, even if they do not know it. The great historian ‘Abdul Rahman ibn Khaldun (d. 1406) who is known in the world as the “Father of Historiography” and who was an acute observer of human nature, wrote in his famous Muqaddimah that “Social life is necessary for humankind. Without it their existence will not be complete and they cannot fulfill the purpose for which Allah created them and sent them to this earth.” Working together is necessary for human survival and for human progress. In the terminology of the Qur’an it is called “ta’awun, ” which comes from the word “’awn” meaning “help and support.” Thus “ta’waun” means “helping and supporting each other.” However, Islam emphasizes that the cooperation must be to do what is right and good, not towards what is sinful and hostile. The ethic of cooperation in Islam is that Muslims should cooperate with others, regardless of whether they are Muslims or nonMuslims, as long as the object of cooperation is right and good. On the other hand, Muslims are not allowed to cooperate with any person or group, whether Muslim or nonMuslim, if the object of cooperation is sinful, unjust and hostile. We have a beautiful example of this principle in the life of our beloved Prophet Muhammad – peace be upon him. It is reported that while he – peace be upon him - was living in Makkah before receiving
Gems from the Holy Qur’an
From the translation by Muhammad Asad (Leopold Weiss) (Recently, a media talk show host, well known for his anti-Muslim bias, saw it fit to make scornful remarks against the Qur’an on TV. In these columns, selections from this Holy Book will be published, so that unacquainted readers of the Pakistan Link may be able to judge for themselves.)
the Prophethood, he joined an alliance known as “Hilf al-Fudul”. The Prophet and some good people of Makkah met at ‘Abdullah ibn Jud’an’s home and made an agreement: “If they found any one either a native of Makkah or an outsider, had been wronged they would take his part against the aggressor and see that the stolen property was restored to him.” (Ibn Hisham, Sirah, vol. 1, pp. 133-134) After he became the Prophet of Allah, the Prophet – peace be upon him- used to say: “I witnessed in the house of Abdullah ibn Jud’an a covenant which I would not exchange for any number of fine camels: if I were invited to take part in it during Islam, I would indeed respond.” (Sirah of Ibn Hisham, vol. 1, p. 134) Muslims must work together among themselves and with others. It is ironic that the complexities of modern life require from us that we should work together, but at the same time there are so many pressures that make people very individualistic. - Bigger Homes, Smaller Fami-
lies
- “We make homes for people who do not like each other” National Association of Home Builders Association … - “Average cost for a marriage in America is $28,000” (cost prohibitive) National Association of Wed-
There are about half a million Muslims living in Southern California. We have more than seventy Masajid and Islamic organizations here. As an umbrella organization the Shura Council represents most of the Masajid and Islamic organizations ding Professionals - Divorce is under $1,000 – the divorce industry is a $28 Billion. When individuals become a team and work toward a goal then much can be accomplished. The Islamic Shura Council of Southern California has been working in this regard at the leadership level. I like to urge everyone in Southern California to also pay attention in the following areas: 1. Families must work together. Spouses, children, older parents, inlaws, other relatives have to learn how to cooperate with and sup-
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port each other. 2. We need to learn how to live with others with our ethnic and cultural differences, our differences in schools of thoughts and jurisprudence (fiqh). 3. We have to learn how to work with people of other faiths and backgrounds. 4. We must diligently work as a team not only with our local Masjid but also extend full cooperation to other regional and national organizations. This will only strengthen each other. 5. We have to learn how to deal with civic and political leaders, how to deal with the media, and how to be good Muslims and good citizens in this society. There is, unfortunately, growing misunderstanding and misperceptions of Islam and Muslims in this society or what is rightly called as “Islamophobia.” It is a reality and we have to learn how to deal with it and correct it in a positive and effective manner. There are also many civic and interfaith groups in America that are working to promote health, good environment, care for the poor and needy and peace and justice for all people. We should know how to work with these groups as well for the benefit of all humanity. The world today is very much interconnected. We are living in a “global village”. The problems that affect one group of people or one part of the world can very easily affect other people and other parts of the world. Allah says: Beware of discord that harms not only the wrongdoers among you, and know that Allah is severe in His punishment. (al-Anfal 8:25) There are about half a million Muslims living in Southern California. We have more than seventy Masajid and Islamic organizations here. As an umbrella organization the Shura Council represents most of the Masajid and Islamic organizations in this area. (Repeated)
Chapter 19, Verses 66 -67 With all this, man [often] says, “What! Once I am dead, shall I again be brought forth alive?” But does not man bear in mind that We have created him aforetime out of nothing? Chapter 19, Verse 76-82 And God endows those who avail themselves of [His] guidance with an ever deeper consciousness of the right way; and good deeds, the fruit whereof endures forever, are, in thy Sustainer’s sight, of far greater merit [than worldly goods], and yield far better returns. And hast thou ever considered [the kind of man] who is bent on denying the truth of Our messages and says, “I will surely be given wealth and children”? Has he, perchance attained to a realm which is beyond the reach of a created being’s perception? – or has he concluded a covenant with the Most Gracious? Nay, We shall record what he says, and We shall lengthen the length of his suffering [in the hereafter], and divest him of all that he is [now] speaking of: for [on Judgment Day] he will appear before Us in a lonely state. For [such as] these who have taken to worshipping deities other than God, hoping that they would be [a source of] strength for them. [ 1 ] But nay! [On Judgment Day] these very objects of adoration] will disavow the worship that was paid to them, and will turn against those [who had worshipped them]! ________________ Translator’s Notes [ 1 ] This refers to the type of man spoken of in the preceding passage as well as in verses 73 – 75: people who “worship” wealth and power with an almost religious devotion, attributing to these manifestations of worldly success the status of divine forces.
CLASSIFIED & MATRIMONIAL
P28 – PAKISTAN LINK – DECEMBER 5, 2014
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PAKISTAN IMRAN FROM P11
Imran used harsh and derogatory language, Imran said he used harsh language because he was concerned for the welfare of the people. He said the PPP and PML-N had established a partnership in 1988 and at that time the exchange rate of the dollar was Rs15 while it is Rs103 today. “The rulers have wreaked havoc with the country and stashed their money in foreign banks,” he added. Imran also mentioned the recent anti-PTI media campaign of the government, saying that he would approach the court against the misuse of public money. “The government is using your [people’s] money and we will go to court for its misuse,” he added. EDUCATION FROM P19
Chapter. “But their efforts put this into another sphere. They gave their lives to help educate children in Pakistan. There has been a huge outpouring of support, and that includes donors in Pakistan. Haris is a hero there. The TCF kids look up to him and many of them now dream of being pilots.” Haris was the youngest of the Sulemans’ three children, all born in the US. “It was a huge shock and it remains so today,” said Haris’ brother, Cyrus, 29, who was studying in London at the time of the accident. “But they really inspired people to give. From the family’s perspective, one consistent message that we have been passing along is that even though it was a huge loss, we hope it affects peoples’ lives in a positive way.” Sister Hiba, 24, says the support following the tragedy has been overwhelming. “Within hours of it happening, I got messages from all over the world – from Austria, Germany and England to Bangladesh and Australia, and even from American Samoa. My dad set the target at $1 million. We asked: why did he set it so high? It looked so hard to achieve.” Hiba said the family is proud that Haris will be posthumously awarded the Sitara-e-Imtiaz, the nation’s third-highest civilian honor, at a ceremony next March, adding that while her brother was very cognizant of his Pakistani upbringing, “Haris was an American boy. He was born in America and raised 100% American. His life is also a role model for American children. Heroes come in all shapes, colors and sizes.” Mission accomplished. We salute Babar and Haris Suleman with the knowledge that they will live forever in the hearts of many Pakistani children. The country and people of Pakistan are grateful to our heroes. Their contribution to education is in the history books. Read more on NBCNews.com. THE CITIZENS FOUNDATION, USA supports the building of civil society in Pakistan and promotes gender equality by providing quality scientific and balanced education for underprivileged children. TCF (Pakistan) Website: http:// www.tcf.org.pk For photographs and more information about The Citizens Foundation and Babar and Haris’s courageous journey please contact: Amjad Noorani. Phone: +1 (650) 793 6364. Email: amjad.noorani@tcfusa.org HHRD FROM P20
Development centers in Pakistan. The important educational work of the 26 skills development centers in far flung areas in Pakistan is to provide women valuable skills that they would not normally get a chance to
DECEMBER 5, 2014 – PAKISTAN LINK – P29 receive. The education gives them a chance to gain financial independence to support their children. Most of these women have lost their men folk. They are transformed into very productive and self-sufficient members of their community. KERRY FROM P1
ministerial level segment of the conference where discussions on opportunities and challenges to greater regional cooperation in various areas are expected to be held. Prime Minister Sharif arrived here Tuesday on the invitation of British Prime Minister David Cameron to attend the London Conference on Afghanistan. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah will also attend the conference. KERRY-RAHEEL MEETING: At his hour-long meeting with Gen Sharif, Secretary Kerry called the Pakistani military “a truly binding force”, said a tweet by the army’s press office. Secretary Kerry “discussed several items of mutual interests” with the Pakistan Army chief, which included “regional peace and security”, State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki told a briefing in Washington on Monday. Secretary Kerry recognized the “tremendous sacrifices the Pakistani military has made in its efforts to improve the security situation in Pakistan and acknowledged Pakistan’s commitment to counter all extremist elements,” she said. Secretary Kerry was not in the United States when Gen Sharif was in Washington but when he returned, he broke a long American tradition of spending the Thanksgiving weekend with the family to meet the Pakistan army chief. “Back in DC post-Thanksgiving; productive meeting with Pakistan Chief of Army Raheel Sharif,” he tweeted after the meeting. This was “the highest political level” meeting of Gen Sharif ’s twoweek stay in the United States. “Very good, both sides had a positive tone and it was held in a very good environment,” said a senior official after the meeting. US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Dan Feldman, and his chief of staff assisted Secretary Kerry in the meeting. Pakistani diplomatic circles pointed out that Secretary Kerry also noted Pakistan Army’s “professional conduct” during current crises, dispelling the impression that the army was “acting as a state within a state”, said one of the sources that spoke to Dawn. Another source said that the Americans recognized that “if there is a force in the greater Middle East region, which stood up to the terrorists, it’s the Pakistan Army”. Secretary Kerry also welcomed improvement in relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and offered to help in further consolidating ties between the two neighboring countries. Diplomatic sources said that Pakistan’s concerns about tensions on the eastern border with India were also discussed but pointed out that this visit was about US-Pakistan relations and that’s what it continued to focus during the last two weeks. Sources also said that it would be a mistake to look for political motives behind Gen Sharif ’s meeting with Secretary Kerry or the Afghan president’s talks with senior military officials.
PLAN FROM P1
seems to have lost none of its steam for a shutter-down protest in Faisalabad on December 8. PTI’s Punjab wing said in Lahore on Wednesday that it was still gearing up for the shutterdown strikes first in Faisalabad on December 8, and then Lahore on December 15, adding that they will also respond to the countrywide shutterdown strike on December 18. Chairman PTI Imran Khan had made calls for city and countrywide shutdowns as part of his ‘Plan C’ announced on November 30 in Islamabad. “There is no confusion within party ranks regarding talks and proceeding with the calls for shut down. It is our resolve that we will go ahead with the call for shut down,” PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry told The Express Tribune on Wednesday. “When they [government] feel the heat, only then will they give in.” While the PTI chairman had initially called for shutting down Lahore on December 4, this date was pushed to December 15 on Monday following a high-level party meeting in Islamabad. While the party had at the time explained the date revision as a tactical reschedule owing to other protests and rallies scheduled for the same day in Lahore, Chaudhry said the decision was taken owing to shortage of preparation time. “The date for Lahore’s shut down was extended because it was too short a notice to mobilize the city. But we decided to go ahead with Faisalabad as per schedule.” “We are mentally ready for the government’s reaction during our protests. This is our constitutional right and we have said we would not resort to violence.” Chaudhry said the party will reach out to all stakeholders including trade unions, doctors, lawyers, teachers and the ordinary man, urging them to support PTI’s cause. Gearing up for Lahore: Meanwhile, the PTI’s Lahore district leadership has started preparations for bringing Lahore to a halt on December 15. District level meetings have been initiated to discuss the strategy for the call made by the party chief. JUNAID FROM P1
The SSP said that Mr Jamshed had not yet been arrested. He said that the matter would be investigated by a senior officer before taking action. In the video, Jamshed appeared to insult one of the wives of the Prophet Muhammad while making a point about women’s flaws. Jamshed swiftly apologized in a video statement Tuesday. “I confess to my mistake,” he said. “I did not do it intentionally.” But the Pakistan Sunni Tehreek party rejected his apology, saying he must be tried in court. “We demand an immediate arrest of Junaid Jamshid, who is a cursed person,” party
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spokesman Mobin Qadri said. ST leader Mobin Qadri moved an application in the court under Section 22-A of the criminal procedure code seeking registration of a blasphemy case against Mr Jamshed for allegedly making blasphemous remarks about the Holy Prophet and his wife Hazrat Ayesha (RA). He said the program had been aired by a private television channel and was also uploaded on various social media websites. JETS FROM P1
significant strides in terms of technology and innovation and his government was laying special emphasis on the export of defense products. Addressing the inaugural session of the 8th International Defense Products Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) 2014, the premier said the government was placing special emphasis on the export of defense products. “Pakistan is producing sophisticated defense products which are cost-effective in comparison with other producers. Several Western countries are also importing defense items from us,” he added. He claimed Pakistan has the potential and capacity not only to meet its own defense requirements but also those of the world. The international community is surprised over the achievements made by Pakistan in the defense field. However there is a need to bring further improvements in the sector, he added. The Prime Minster reiterated his government’s concerted support for the ongoing military operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan Agency, and vowed to continue it till its logical conclusion. He said that his government was also mindful of other challenges faced by the country including poverty, illiteracy and under-development. “We will lay the foundation of a competitive economy and infrastructure to put the country on the path to sustainable development,” he asserted. CEC FROM P1
Dar, while addressing a press conference after his meeting with Shah. The opposition leader also spoke to the media and said lengthy discussions were held to shortlist these names. “The process has been completed as per the Constitution and now the judges will choose the most eligible candidate for the post,” he added. Shah added that a meeting will be held to discuss the nominations at 11am on December 4.
The opposition leader also reached out to Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf ’ (PTI) for consultation and Information Secretary Shireen Mazari said PTI has no reservations over the three names. She added that consulting all parties was important for the decision. CG FROM P1
Service of Pakistan in 1992. Career Trajectory: Mr. Khan served at the following positions over the last 22 years. Spain as Third Secretary & Language Trainee Dubai - as Vice Consul (Consular & Community Affairs) Germany - as Second Secretary (Political & Administration) London – as Second Secretary; Media Coordinator & Aide to the Ambassador Lahore – As Deputy Chief of Protocol for Punjab Islamabad –as Deputy Chief of State Protocol responsible for VVIP visits London, UK as Head of Administration and Acting Consul General Sydney, Australia as Counsellor & Acting Consul General Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources as Joint Secretary (HR & Admin.) Islamabad as Director General Special Projects (2013-14) Education - Master’s Degree in Business Administration, from IBA, Lahore (1991) having specialised in Marketing and Management. - Schooling in the United Kingdom, Paris France & Aitchison College, Lahore Strengths - Management, Implementation, People & Communication Skills - Diverse Connectivity, Decisiveness Interests - Countryside & Nature, Architecture & old heritage - Government reforms through improved systems and right sizing Passions: - Rule of Law, , Good Governance, Public Service Delivery, Freedom of Expression, Environmental Conservation Personal - Married with two sons and a daughter - Born in Lahore
ENTERTAINMENT & LIFESTYLE
DECEMBER 5, 2014 - PAKISTAN LINK
ENTERTAINMENT
P30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; PAKISTAN LINK â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DECEMBER 5, 2014
lowed by Humsafar. Both shows received immense critical acclaim and became fan favourites. Fans took to Twitter to congratulate Fawad on winning the award and also to wish him a happy birthday. #HappyBirthdayFawadKhan started trending minutes past midnight.
I
t's double celebration time for the handsome Fawad Khan!
The royal Yuvraj Vikram Singh Rathore of Khoobsurat has won the 'Best Bollywood Debut' at the Masala Awards 2014, which took place at Madinat Jumeira in Dubai. And not only that, it's also his birthday!
Pakistani actor Humaima Malick was also representing Pakistan at the Awards and performed on songs, "Tere hoke rahenge" and "Namak pare", from her Bollywood film, Raja Natwarlal. Fawad's body of work has proved how multi-talented he is. From his singing days as part of the band Entity Paradigm to his land-
mark role inKhuda Kay Liye, he has always been a heartthrob. The 33-year-old is a constant source of pride for Pakistan and has gone across the border and won the hearts of millions of Indians. He was first seen on Indian television when his hit television serial,Zindagi Gulzar Hai aired on Zee Network's Zindagi channel, fol-
T
V star Sarwat Gilani, who tied the knot with Fahad Mirza in August of this year, is now going to be a mother. Talking to Dawn.com, the 32-year old reaffirmed that she is "very much pregnant" and dismissed the possibility that a baby would halt her career: "I will continue working after having a baby. The world doesn't stop when you become a mother." Gilani, who started out as a model, has built a lucrative career since by working in notable television dramas such as Meray Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley, Meri Zaat Zarra-e-Benishan, Dil E Muztar and was most recently seen in Aahista Aahista. Her recent drama Mata-e-Jaan also won her bundles of praise for her role as the bubbly, earnest young Haniya, The actress walked the red carpet at Fashion Pakistan Week Autumn/Winter this week as Toni & Guy's Glamour muse and was definitely sporting a baby bump. The couple had a high profile wedding three months ago that was a star studded affair. This was her second marriage, after the actress parted ways with her former husband, Omer Saleem. Courtesy Dawn
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